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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 2-6 h | 30–60 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-10 | 4-8 | 2-8 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | Root causeQualityOperations |