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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  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 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 | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | 4-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 2-8 | 5-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | LeanStartupValidationMVP | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation |
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
