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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Paper illustration for Behavior Over Time Graph.
Systems Thinking
Behavior Over Time Graph
Iceberg Model method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Iceberg Model
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 process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability.A Behavior Over Time Graph shows how a metric or observation develops over time. The method makes trends, breaks, and recurring patterns visible that get lost in snapshots.The Iceberg Model separates visible events from patterns, structures, and mental models. This turns a single observation into a deeper understanding of why a problem keeps recurring.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighLowLow
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen2-6 h20-45 min30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen3-101-102-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation ActionsBehavior Over Time Graph, Trend Hypotheses, Key EventsIceberg Worksheet, Pattern Notes, Intervention Ideas
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
Systems thinkingPatternsDynamics
Systems thinkingRoot causePatterns
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