methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Paper illustration of the Lightning Decision Jam working structure.
Facilitation
Decision Jam
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
Purposedifferent
When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions.When a decision is stuck, Decision Jam loosens the knot through structured separation of problem, idea, and selection. The format creates movement without jumping prematurely at the first seemingly elegant answer.With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowMedium
Timedifferent
30-120 min60-90 min45-120 min
Participantsdifferent
2-64-102-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Observation Notes, Improvement IdeasProblem Cluster, Prioritized Challenge, ExperimentTrade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides
Tagsno overlap
LeanObservationProcessOperations
FacilitationDecisionProblem solvingWorkshop
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
Add more methods

Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Paper illustration for Kepner-Tregoe
Operations
Kepner-Tregoe
Paper matrix with six colored hat cards for information, feeling, value, caution, ideas and process control.
Facilitation
Six Thinking Hats