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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Systems Mapping | ![]() Operations Gemba Walk | ![]() Domain Modeling Domain Context Map | ![]() UX Research Contextual Inquiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins. | 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. | When a domain model and its associated contexts need to be thought through together, it creates a shared overview. It connects the business view and organizational boundary into a readable whole. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 30-120 min | 1-3 h | 1-3 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 2-6 | 3-10 | 4-12 Beobachtungen |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Domain Context Map, Boundary Notes, Ownership Map | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange | LeanObservationProcessOperations | Domain-Driven DesignContextBoundaries | UX researchObservationContext |



