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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Paper illustration of two people facing each other, speech bubbles and an open interview notebook.
UX Research
User Interviews
Paper illustration for 8D Problem Solving.
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.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 teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible.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
LowHighLowHigh
Timedifferent
45–90 min2-6 h30–60 min per interview1-6 Wochen
Participantsdifferent
3-103-101 participant per interview4-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation ActionsInterview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery
QualityProblem solvingRoot cause
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