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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Operations Process Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a navigation exists but search paths still fail, tree testing checks findability without visual distraction. The method shows whether labels, levels, and paths really lead to the intended destination. | When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-2 Tage | 30-120 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | Based on research question | 2-6 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | Information architectureNavigationFindability | LeanObservationProcessOperations | ProcessOperationsImprovement |