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| Criterion |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Product Strategy SMART Goals |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 goals are formulated too generally, it brings measurability, direction, and timing into shape. It prevents intentions from staying without clear verification. | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. | 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 | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 15-30 min | 1-2 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-8 | 3-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | SMART Goal, Measurement Note, Deadline | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | GoalsPlanningMeasurementAlignment | StrategyAnalysisOptions | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |