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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Systems Thinking Evaporating Cloud |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 60-120 min | 2-4 h | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 3-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |