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| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Innovation Lean Startup |  Operations Kaizen Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | 30-120 min | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | 0.5-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | 2-6 | 2-8 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | Kaizen Charter, Waste List, Improvement Experiments, Standard Work Update |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | LeanObservationProcessOperations | LeanStartupValidationMVP | LeanContinuous improvementOperations |