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| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Operations Process Mapping |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | 1-3 h | 1-6 Wochen | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | 3-10 | 4-10 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ProcessOperationsImprovement | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | Root causeQualityOperations |