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| Criterion |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  Operations Gemba Walk |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Operations Standard Work Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | 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 the same task is done differently depending on the person, the method exposes the reliable core. It creates comparability without unnecessarily choking off needed latitude. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | 30-120 min | 1-3 Wochen | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 2-6 | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Standard Work Sheet, Deviation List, Improved Standard, Training Needs |
Tagsno overlap | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | LeanObservationProcessOperations | UX researchObservationContext | LeanProcessQuality |