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| Criterion |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  Domain Modeling Context Map |  Product Strategy Counter Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an improvement that still has to prove itself in everyday work, the method runs it through small learning loops. It connects planning, checking, and standardization into a repeatable learning mode. | When several contexts need to talk to each other, it makes their relationships and dependencies legible. It helps sort integration pressure and responsibilities across system boundaries. | When a headline metric could mask side effects, it adds guardrail signals against unwanted outcomes. It connects customer value, product logic, and decision priorities. The result is captured as a counter-metric list and guardrail definitions. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | 1-3 h | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 1-8 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | Context Map, Integration Patterns, Boundary Notes | Counter Metric List, Guardrail Definitions |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | Domain-Driven DesignBoundariesStrategy | MetricsMeasurementStrategyExperiments |