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| Criterion |  Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |  Decision Making DACI |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic. | In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 60-180 min | 30-60 min | 45–90 min | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-20 | 2-10 | 3-10 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |