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| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | 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. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 45–90 min | 15-30 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures |
Tags1 shared | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |