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| Criterion |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |  Innovation Design Thinking |  Operations ALPEN Method |  Innovation Design Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 10-20 min daily | 4-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-10 | 1 | 5-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | InnovationPrototypeResearch | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation |