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Criterion
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of the Consensus Workshop working structure.
Facilitation
Consensus Workshop
Purposedifferent
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.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 group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time.
Complexitydifferent
LowHighMedium
Timedifferent
45-90 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
3-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders5-30
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, ShortlistPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsConsensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas
Tagsno overlap
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

A paper-based illustration representing Brainstorming with its core stages and visible working result.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Paper illustration for Reverse Brainstorming
Innovation
Reverse Brainstorming
Paper illustration for Round Robin Brainstorming
Innovation
Round Robin Brainstorming
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping