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| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Cynefin Workshop | ![]() UX Research Empathy Mapping | ![]() Facilitation Consensus Workshop | ![]() UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 60-180 min | 30–60 min | 1-3 h | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-20 | 4-8 | 5-30 | 3-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |



