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| Criterion | ![]() Facilitation Lean Coffee | ![]() Facilitation 1-2-4-All | ![]() Facilitation World Café | ![]() Facilitation Fishbowl Discussion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a group without a fixed agenda needs to get into useful conversations quickly, Lean Coffee structures the start around interests rather than a presentation. The group itself negotiates which topics get time first and which wait. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 10-20 min | 60-180 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 | 4-100+ | 12-100+ | 8-80 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Prioritized Topics, Discussion Notes, Action Items | Idea List, Shared Insights, Emergent Themes | Table Notes, Emergent Themes, Shared Questions | Discussion Insights, Observed Tensions, Follow-up Questions |
Tags1 shared | FacilitationAutonomyDialogue | FacilitationInclusionIdeation | FacilitationDialogueLarge groupSensemaking | FacilitationDialogueLarge group |



