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| Criterion |  Decision Making Assumption Surfacing |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Facilitation Decision Jam |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. | 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 a decision is stuck, Decision Jam loosens the knot through structured separation of problem, idea, and selection. The format creates movement without jumping prematurely at the first seemingly elegant answer. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 30–60 min | 60-90 min | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-8 | 4-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Problem Cluster, Prioritized Challenge, Experiment | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | FacilitationDecisionProblem solvingWorkshop | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |