methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
A structured reflection surfaces what was liked, learned, lacked, and longed for. It is a conversation format and does not validate actions automatically.
Agile
4Ls Retrospective
Four paper stations connect system purpose, quality goals, risk cards and focused investigation with a target and gap profile.
Architecture
LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Paper illustration for Mad Sad Glad
Agile
Mad Sad Glad
Purposedifferent
When a sprint should not only be assessed but also learned from, it captures experience in clear learning categories. It records what worked, what's missing, and what should run differently next time.LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail.When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable.When a team's or workshop's mood needs to become readable, it structures emotional signals with little setup. It makes strain, relief, and sources of energy tangible.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
45–75 min3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional1-2 h30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
Team members involved1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people4-123-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement ActionsLean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checksAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision QuestionsEmotion Board, Themes, Action Items
Tagsno overlap
RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam
ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
RetrospectiveTeamReflection
Add more methods