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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30-60 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeQualityOperations | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |
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