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| Criterion |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an improvement that still has to prove itself in everyday work, the method runs it through small learning loops. It connects planning, checking, and standardization into a repeatable learning mode. | 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 there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | 1-3 Wochen | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | UX researchObservationContext | LeanObservationProcessOperations |
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
