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| Criterion |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  UX Research HEART Framework |  Operations Gemba Walk |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | 120 min initial, dann laufend | 30-120 min | 1-3 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 3-6 | 2-6 | 4-12 Beobachtungen |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | HEART-GSM Table, Dashboard | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points |
Tagsno overlap | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | MetricsUX researchMeasurementSatisfaction | LeanObservationProcessOperations | UX researchObservationContext |