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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Innovation Design Thinking |  Innovation Lean Startup |  Innovation Design Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | For uncertain business assumptions, the method forces the idea into contact with real market reactions early. It separates wishful picture, assumption, and observable behavior, so that learning becomes faster than planning. This translates uncertainty into measurable insight. | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | 4-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 4-10 | 2-8 | 5-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | InnovationPrototypeResearch | LeanStartupValidationMVP | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation |