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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping |  Facilitation 3-Circle Venn Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | 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. | When an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. | When three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 1-2 h | 60–90 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-12 | 2-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | Venn Diagram, Overlap Notes, Differentiators |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | ComparisonFacilitationAlignment |