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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Affinity Diagramming | ![]() Product Discovery Jobs to Be Done | ![]() Operations Barrier Analysis | ![]() UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 switching motives and progress are unclear, it reconstructs the situation from real customer circumstances. It shows why a switch happens and what kind of progress is being sought. | For a risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-3 Wochen | 2-4 h | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 5-12 Interviews | 2-6 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Job Stories, Outcome Statements, Opportunity List | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | CustomerOutcomesNeeds | Root causeSafetyIncident | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |



