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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper notes move from an inbox to action, project and calendar collections.
Operations
Getting Things Done
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Purposedifferent
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.For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together.With many open commitments and ideas in daily life, a reliable external storage system emerges. The method relieves the mind so priority and context don't have to compete in memory.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.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen45-90 min1-2 h Setup, laufend30-120 min
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen2-512-6
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsA3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause AnalysisAction Lists, Project List, Review RoutineObservation Notes, Improvement Ideas
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations
ProductivityPlanningTasksExecution
LeanObservationProcessOperations
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