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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | 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. | For a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-3 h | 1-2 h | 2-8 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 1-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations |