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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Paper illustration for Kaizen Event.
Operations
Kaizen Event
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.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.For a tightly scoped process segment with noticeable waste, the method bundles shared energy for change. It suits situations that call for fast learning loops and visible adjustments.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen30-120 min0.5-5 Tage
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen2-64-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsObservation Notes, Improvement IdeasKaizen Charter, Waste List, Improvement Experiments, Standard Work Update
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
LeanObservationProcessOperations
LeanContinuous improvementOperations
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Often compared together

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

A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration for PDCA Cycle.
Operations
PDCA Cycle
Process Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Operations
Process Mapping
Paper illustration for Standard Work Analysis.
Operations
Standard Work Analysis