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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Time Blocking |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  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. | With a calendar that grows on request, the method makes available time explicit again. It combines appointments, focus work, and buffer into a more realistic day structure. | 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. | 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 | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 15-30 min Planung, laufend | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Blocked Calendar, Capacity View, Focus Plan | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | PlanningTime managementFocus | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |