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| Criterion |  Operations Visual Management |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With high tempo and many parallel topics, the method makes status, deviations, and priorities visible at a glance. It reduces search effort and prevents what matters from getting lost in daily work. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | Ongoing | 30–60 min | 45–90 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-20 | 4-8 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Visual Board, Status Indicators, Exception Cues | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SignalsOperationsVisual management | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |