methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

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
Paper illustration of several people silently writing ideas and passing sheets around with arrows.
Innovation
Brainwriting
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
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 loud voices or hierarchy distort the idea search, the method creates a quiet entry into joint development. It gives everyone thinking space and gathers contributions without social brakes, making diversity more visible and easier to build on.With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
15-45 min45-90 min15-30 min45-120 min
Participantsdifferent
1-102-83-122-8
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open QuestionsDecision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected OptionIdea sheets, Expanded concepts, Prioritized listTrade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides
Tagsno overlap
BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation
DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs
BrainstormingCollaborationInclusionIdeas
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
Add more methods