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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration for Root Cause Tree Analysis
Operations
Root Cause Tree Analysis
Paper illustration of two user profile cards with a goal, behavior evidence, and an open research question.
UX Research
Personas
Paper illustration for Root Cause Analysis.
Operations
Root Cause Analysis
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 problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie.When target groups stay too vague and teams talk about the same people differently, personas create a shared, solid picture of usage. Condensed profiles make needs, contexts, and differences tangible enough for decisions.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
45–90 min1-3 h1-3 Tage1-4 h
Participantsdifferent
3-102-8Internes Team3-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasCause Tree, Evidence Notes, CountermeasuresPersona Profiles, Needs Summary, Scenario NotesProblem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
Root causeTreeIncidentQuality
ResearchCustomerSynthesis
Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident
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