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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research HEART Framework | ![]() UX Research Contextual Inquiry | ![]() Facilitation Alignment Mapping | ![]() Product Strategy Counter Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Helps clarify observations, needs, and patterns in concrete terms. It groups observations into patterns, questions, and decisions. The result is captured as a HEART-GSM table and dashboard. | When work processes are known only from accounts and the real context stays hidden, Contextual Inquiry makes behavior at the workplace visible. Observation and follow-up questions together show how people actually work, get interrupted, and improvise. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | When a headline metric could mask side effects, it adds guardrail signals against unwanted outcomes. It connects customer value, product logic, and decision priorities. The result is captured as a counter-metric list and guardrail definitions. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 120 min initial, dann laufend | 1-3 Wochen | 1-2 h | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-6 | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 4-12 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | HEART-GSM Table, Dashboard | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Counter Metric List, Guardrail Definitions |
Tagsno overlap | MetricsUX researchMeasurementSatisfaction | UX researchObservationContext | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | MetricsMeasurementStrategyExperiments |



