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| Criterion |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Agile Specification by Example |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. | When business rules need to become precise, it ties language, example, and test together. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as an Example Table and Acceptance Tests. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 1-3 h | 60-90 min pro Feature | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 2-8 | 3-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Example Table, Acceptance Tests | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | AgileRequirementsExamplesBehavior-Driven Development | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |