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| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling IBIS | ![]() Facilitation Alignment Mapping | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Facilitation Decision Jam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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 several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1-2 h | 1-2 h | 60-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-12 | 3-10 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Problem Cluster, Prioritized Challenge, Experiment |
Tagsno overlap | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | FacilitationDecisionProblem solvingWorkshop |



