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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |  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 a series of incidents with a similar pattern, the method arranges individual events as branches of a common origin. It makes visible which conditions keep recurring. | 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 | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 2-4 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tags1 shared | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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