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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  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. | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30-60 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tags1 shared | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeQualityOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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