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| Criterion |  Domain Modeling Bounded Context Canvas |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Domain Modeling Context Map |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a business context is still loosely outlined, it shapes language, responsibility, and integration space. It clarifies what belongs together and where a boundary needs to hold. | 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 several contexts need to talk to each other, it makes their relationships and dependencies legible. It helps sort integration pressure and responsibilities across system boundaries. | 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 | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 45–90 min | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Canvas, Glossary, Integration Notes | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Context Map, Integration Patterns, Boundary Notes | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Domain-Driven DesignBoundariesModeling | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Domain-Driven DesignBoundariesStrategy | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |