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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Contextual Inquiry | ![]() Operations Ivy Lee Method | ![]() Operations ALPEN Method | ![]() Operations Eat the Frog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With a restless workday full of too many open items, the method creates radical simplicity. It directs attention to a short sequence instead of a broad, still-open field. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | The method protects energy and attention for the task that creates the largest progress and is often postponed. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 5-10 min daily | 10-20 min daily | 15-90 min daily |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Daily Priority List, Completion Notes | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Priority Task, Completion Note, Daily Focus |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | PrioritizationProductivityExecution | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | PrioritizationProductivityFocusExecution |



