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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |  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 event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | A Causal Loop Diagram makes feedback, reinforcement, and balance in a system legible. It uncovers side effects and self-reinforcement that stay hidden in linear explanations. | 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 | 2-6 h | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |