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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Operations Fault Tree Analysis |  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. | 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. | 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 | High | High |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30-60 min | 2-6 h | 1-6 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 3-8 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | Fault Tree, Critical Paths, Cause Hypotheses, Control Actions | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan |
Tags1 shared | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeQualityOperations | RiskRoot causeSafety | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause |