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| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Operations Barrier Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | 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. | For a risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | 1-3 h | 1-6 Wochen | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | 2-8 | 4-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | Root causeSafetyIncident |