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| Criterion |  Operations Process Mapping |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Operations After-Action Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. | 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. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1-3 Wochen | 30-120 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 2-6 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary |
Tagsno overlap | ProcessOperationsImprovement | UX researchObservationContext | LeanObservationProcessOperations | LearningOperationsImprovement |