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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | 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 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 | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 20-45 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Based on research question | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | Information architectureNavigationStructure | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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