methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Context Map workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Domain Modeling
Context Map
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Stakeholder Mapping
Facilitation
Stakeholder Mapping
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Purposedifferent
When several contexts need to talk to each other, it makes their relationships and dependencies legible. It helps sort integration pressure and responsibilities across system boundaries.When work processes are known only from accounts and the real context stays hidden, Contextual Inquiry makes behavior at the workplace visible. Observation and follow-up questions together show how people actually work, get interrupted, and improvise.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 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
MediumMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 h1-3 Wochen60–90 min1-2 h
Participantsdifferent
2-84-12 Beobachtungen2-84-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Context Map, Integration Patterns, Boundary NotesField Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsStakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk NotesAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions
Tagsno overlap
Domain-Driven DesignBoundariesStrategy
UX researchObservationContext
StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
Add more methods