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Selected:Affinity DiagrammingFishbone DiagramArchitecture Communication CanvasFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects 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. | 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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30-60 min | 60-120 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeQualityOperations | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |