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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Fault Tree Analysis |  Operations Root Cause 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. | 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. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 2-6 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-8 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Fault Tree, Critical Paths, Cause Hypotheses, Control Actions | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tags1 shared | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | RiskRoot causeSafety | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |
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