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| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping | ![]() Product Discovery Context Canvas | ![]() UX Research Contextual Inquiry | ![]() Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | When an environment of users, systems, and constraints is hard to grasp, it puts the context compactly on the table. It creates a clear reading of influence, boundary, and dependency. | When work processes are known only from accounts and the real context stays hidden, Contextual Inquiry makes behavior at the workplace visible. Observation and follow-up questions together show how people actually work, get interrupted, and improvise. | Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 45-90 min | 1-3 Wochen | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 3-10 | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan |
Tagsno overlap | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | UX researchObservationContext | KnowledgeMappingRisk |



