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| Criterion |  Facilitation Lean Coffee |  Facilitation World Café |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  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 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 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. | 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 | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 60-180 min | 1-2 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 | 12-100+ | 4-12 | 8-80 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Prioritized Topics, Discussion Notes, Action Items | Table Notes, Emergent Themes, Shared Questions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Discussion Insights, Observed Tensions, Follow-up Questions |
Tags1 shared | FacilitationAutonomyDialogue | FacilitationDialogueLarge groupSensemaking | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | FacilitationDialogueLarge group |