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| Criterion |  Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  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. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | 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 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |