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| Criterion | ![]() Engineering Failure Scenario Analysis | ![]() UX Research Empathy Mapping | ![]() UX Research Affinity Diagramming | ![]() Decision Making Pre-Mortem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In critical processes, it is not enough to plan only for the normal case. Failure Scenario Analysis looks at the path into failure and shows which failures, chains, and control gaps cause the most damage. | 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 research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | In early initiatives with many uncertainties, planning quickly turns too optimistic. A pre-mortem makes the expected failure visible in advance and sharpens the view of causes, gaps, and countermeasures. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 30–60 min | 45–90 min | 20–45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 4-8 | 3-10 | Small cross-functional group |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Failure Scenarios, Risk Notes, Control Gaps, Test and Response Actions | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Risk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption log |
Tagsno overlap | FailureResilienceRisk | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | RiskDecisionFailurePlanning |



