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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Delivery Shape Up |  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. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | Shape Up helps clarify scope, sequence, and delivery flow. It makes work boundaries and decisions explicit and captures results as pitches, bet-table decisions, and hill charts. | 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 | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30–60 min | 6 Wochen Cycle + 2 Wochen Cool-Down | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-8 | 2-4 pro Pitch | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Pitches, Bet-table decisions, Hill charts, Cooldown outcomes | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | PlanningDeliveryAutonomy | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |