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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  UX Research Customer Journey Mapping |  UX Design Customer Journey Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a user journey falls apart across many touchpoints, customer journey mapping makes the experience visible as a coherent arc. Phases, emotions, and breaks become legible enough to prioritize critical moments deliberately. | When a journey needs to be understood across several phases, it arranges experience, touchpoints, and opportunities into one picture. It makes gaps and friction along the user path clear. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 2-6 h | 2-4 h | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-10 | 4-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Journey Map, Pain-point List, Opportunity Backlog | Customer Journey Canvas, Pain Points, Experience Opportunities |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | JourneyServiceService design | JourneyCustomerService designCanvas |