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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Process Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Operations
Process Mapping
Paper illustration for Standard Work Analysis.
Operations
Standard Work Analysis
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
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 confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots.When the same task is done differently depending on the person, the method exposes the reliable core. It creates comparability without unnecessarily choking off needed latitude.For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumMediumHigh
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen1-3 h1-3 h2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen3-102-63-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsProcess Map, Handoff List, Improvement BacklogStandard Work Sheet, Deviation List, Improved Standard, Training NeedsFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
ProcessOperationsImprovement
LeanProcessQuality
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
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