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| Criterion |  Operations Scatter Diagram |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When the question is whether two measures are related, the method makes patterns in the data picture visible. It separates felt correlations from relationships that actually show up in the data. | 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 | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 45–90 min | 15-30 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 3-10 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Scatter Plot, Korrelationsnotiz, Hypothesenliste | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures |
Tags1 shared | Root causeQualityVisualization | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |