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| Criterion |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Innovation Lean Startup |  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 uncertain business assumptions, the method forces the idea into contact with real market reactions early. It separates wishful picture, assumption, and observable behavior, so that learning becomes faster than planning. This translates uncertainty into measurable insight. | 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 | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 30-120 min | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | 0.5-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 2-6 | 2-8 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | Kaizen Charter, Waste List, Improvement Experiments, Standard Work Update |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | LeanObservationProcessOperations | LeanStartupValidationMVP | LeanContinuous improvementOperations |