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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Agile Example Mapping |  Operations 5 Whys |  Agile Specification by Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 story carries business rules and exceptions, it brings clarity before implementation. It makes examples, open questions, and boundaries visible enough that the logic becomes jointly sound. | 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. | When business rules need to become precise, it ties language, example, and test together. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as an Example Table and Acceptance Tests. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30-60 min | 15-30 min | 60-90 min pro Feature |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-7 | 2-6 | 3-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Example Map, Acceptance Criteria, Open Questions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Example Table, Acceptance Tests |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Behavior-Driven DevelopmentRequirementsExamplesRefinement | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | AgileRequirementsExamplesBehavior-Driven Development |