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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-6 Wochen | 60-120 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-10 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |