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Selected:Card SortingArchitecture Decision RecordFailure Mode and Effects Analysis8D Problem Solving
| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Card Sorting | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis | ![]() Operations 8D Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | High |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 15-45 min | 2-6 h | 1-6 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1-3 | 3-10 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause |



