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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Fault 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 critical top event with several possible triggers, the method logically models failure paths. It makes visible which combinations of conditions can lead to damage. | 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 | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 2-6 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Fault Tree, Critical Paths, Cause Hypotheses, Control Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tags1 shared | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | RiskRoot causeSafety | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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