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| Criterion | ![]() Facilitation Fishbowl Discussion | ![]() Facilitation 1-2-4-All | ![]() Facilitation World Café | ![]() Facilitation Nominal Group Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a controversial topic needs depth and discipline at the same time, Fishbowl Discussion makes the structure of the conversation transparent. The format keeps the core small enough for real dialogue and open enough for controlled turnover. | When many people in a group too rarely get to speak, 1-2-4-All distributes thinking time more fairly. The format builds participation step by step and makes quiet or still-unformed thoughts usable faster. | When a group needs to connect many viewpoints in a short time, World Café creates a calm alternation between closeness and rotation. It sets thinking in motion without forcing the conversation into full-plenary rigidity. | When loud voices could dominate a round, Nominal Group Technique protects individual thinking time from group effects. It collects ideas separately first and only then enables shared weighting. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 10-20 min | 60-180 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 8-80 | 4-100+ | 12-100+ | 5-12 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Discussion Insights, Observed Tensions, Follow-up Questions | Idea List, Shared Insights, Emergent Themes | Table Notes, Emergent Themes, Shared Questions | Ranked Ideas, Clarified Options, Group Priority |
Tags1 shared | FacilitationDialogueLarge group | FacilitationInclusionIdeation | FacilitationDialogueLarge groupSensemaking | FacilitationPrioritizationVotingInclusion |



