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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Architecture arc42 |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30-60 min | 1-2 Tage | 1-6 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 1-4 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeQualityOperations | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause |