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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Paper illustration of a Concept Map with concepts and labelled links
Knowledge Modeling
Concept Mapping
Systems Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Systems Mapping
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.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.Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins.
Complexitysame
MediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen1-2 h1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen1-83-12
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsConcept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge GapsSystem Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking
Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Domain Context Map
Domain Modeling
Domain Context Map
Paper illustration for Future Reality Tree.
Systems Thinking
Future Reality Tree
Paper illustration for Intervention Mapping.
Systems Thinking
Intervention Mapping
Paper illustration for Knowledge Mapping.
Knowledge Modeling
Knowledge Mapping