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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Operations ALPEN Method |  Decision Making DACI |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated. | In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 10-20 min daily | 30-60 min | 90-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1 | 2-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility |