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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Card Sorting | ![]() Delivery Communication Plan | ![]() Facilitation Alignment 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. | When many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost. | 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 | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 45-90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 2-6 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |
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