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| Criterion |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Facilitation Six Thinking Hats |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | 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 topic gets stuck too quickly in the same thinking mode, Six Thinking Hats deliberately separates the perspectives. This means facts, risks, creativity, and emotional signals get worked through one after another instead of mixed together. | When a group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 30–60 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-8 | 4-12 | 5-30 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Perspective Notes, Decision Inputs, Action Items | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas |
Tagsno overlap | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | FacilitationOptionsDecision | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment |