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| Criterion | ![]() Innovation Lean Startup | ![]() Innovation Brainstorming | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Innovation Lotus Blossom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For uncertain business assumptions, the method forces the idea into contact with real market reactions early. It separates wishful picture, assumption, and observable behavior, so that learning becomes faster than planning. This translates uncertainty into measurable insight. | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | 30-60 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-12 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | LeanStartupValidationMVP | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop |



