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| Criterion |  UX Research User Interviews |  Operations ALPEN Method |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min per interview | 10-20 min daily | 45-90 min | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1 participant per interview | 1 | 2-5 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Interview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | LeanObservationProcessOperations |