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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Affinity Diagramming | ![]() Product Discovery Jobs to Be Done | ![]() Operations Kepner-Tregoe | ![]() Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-3 Wochen | 2-8 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 5-12 Interviews | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Job Stories, Outcome Statements, Opportunity List | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | CustomerOutcomesNeeds | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |



