View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Decision Making Assumption Surfacing |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Facilitation Problem Framing Workshop |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | When a team works on symptoms but the real question stays fuzzy, a Problem Framing Workshop sharpens the view of the right problem. It separates observation, interpretation, and target picture from each other. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | 60-120 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-8 | 4-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Problem Statement, Scope Boundaries, Assumption List, Next Analysis Questions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | FacilitationAlignmentDiscovery | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |