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| Criterion |  Decision Making Risk Matrix |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a project faces many possible disruptions, it quickly becomes unclear which risks deserve attention first. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Risk Matrix and a Top Risk List. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | 30–60 min | 2-6 h | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-8 | 3-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Risk Matrix, Top Risk List | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | RiskDecisionPrioritizationAssessment | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |