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| Criterion | ![]() Operations PDCA Cycle | ![]() Innovation Lean Startup | ![]() Product Discovery Test Card | ![]() Product Discovery Fake Door Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For uncertain business assumptions, the method forces the idea into contact with real market reactions early. It separates wishful picture, assumption, and observable behavior, so that learning becomes faster than planning. This translates uncertainty into measurable insight. | The Test Card turns a critical assumption into a testable claim and specifies in advance which result counts as success. | When demand is still unclear, it measures interest in a feature before it is built. It separates real behavior from polite agreement and deliberately keeps build effort small. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | 20-35 min | 1-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 2-8 | 1-5 | Nutzertraffic |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | Test Card with a pre-set threshold | Click Data, Interest Signal, Learning Decision |
Tagsno overlap | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | LeanStartupValidationMVP | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryHypothesis | ValidationExperimentsDemandDiscovery |



