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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Ivy Lee Method |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Operations Eat the Frog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With a restless workday full of too many open items, the method creates radical simplicity. It directs attention to a short sequence instead of a broad, still-open field. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | The method protects energy and attention for the task that creates the largest progress and is often postponed. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 5-10 min daily | 1-4 h | 15-90 min daily |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1 | 3-8 | 1 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Daily Priority List, Completion Notes | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Priority Task, Completion Note, Daily Focus |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | PrioritizationProductivityExecution | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | PrioritizationProductivityFocusExecution |