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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Paper illustration for Future Reality Tree.
Systems Thinking
Future Reality Tree
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.A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation.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
MediumHighLow
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen2-4 h30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen3-82-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsFuture Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved InjectionsIceberg Worksheet, Pattern Notes, Intervention Ideas
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange
Systems thinkingRoot causePatterns
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Often compared together

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

Paper illustration for Behavior Over Time Graph.
Systems Thinking
Behavior Over Time Graph
Paper illustration for Change Analysis.
Operations
Change Analysis
Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
Paper illustration for Evaporating Cloud.
Systems Thinking
Evaporating Cloud