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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration of a Concept Map with concepts and labelled links
Knowledge Modeling
Concept Mapping
Anonymous individual judgments pass through feedback loops to form a distribution.
Decision Making
Delphi Method
Paper illustration for Cynefin Workshop.
Decision Making
Cynefin Workshop
Purposedifferent
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.Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly.When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together.When problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumHighMedium
Timedifferent
45–90 min1-2 h1-4 Wochen60-180 min
Participantsdifferent
3-101-86-30 Experten4-20
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasConcept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge GapsExpert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption NotesCynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking
ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy
ComplexitySensemakingDecision
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