methodatlas
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Criterion
Paper mind map with a central course onboarding question, colored main branches, keywords and cross-links.
Facilitation
Mind Mapping
Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
A paper-based illustration representing Brainstorming with its core stages and visible working result.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Purposedifferent
When a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early.When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
15-45 min45-90 min30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
1-102-84-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open QuestionsDecision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected OptionIdea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist
Tagsno overlap
BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation
DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Paper illustration for Round Robin Brainstorming
Innovation
Round Robin Brainstorming
Paper illustration of the Lightning Decision Jam working structure.
Facilitation
Decision Jam
Paper illustration of Design Charrette with its method-specific working model.
Innovation
Design Charrette