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| Criterion |  Facilitation Dot Estimation |  Decision Making Decision Tree |  Agile Bucket System |  Agile Ideal Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When size or effort can only be estimated roughly, Dot Estimation condenses the group's experience into a quick range. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as an Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, and Discussion Targets. | For decisions with follow-on paths and dependencies, a linear comparison is often not enough. A Decision Tree shows how options branch under conditions and which consequences hang on each branch. | When a large batch of work needs a fast, rough estimate, it sorts items into predefined size buckets. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, and Split Candidates. | When effort needs to be thought of as real working time, it offers a simple common denominator for comparison. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as Ideal Day Estimates, Assumption Notes, and Capacity Caveats. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 5-20 min | 30-90 min | 30-90 min | 15-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 | 1-6 | 3-12 | 2-9 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion Targets | Decision Tree, Option Map, Assumption List | Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, Split Candidates | Ideal Day Estimates, Assumption Notes, Capacity Caveats |
Tagsno overlap | EstimationEffortRisk | DecisionTreeOptions | EstimationBacklogRelative sizing | EstimationEffortAgile |