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| Criterion |  Facilitation Mind Mapping |  Facilitation Fishbowl Discussion |  Facilitation Lean Coffee |  Facilitation World Café |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 45-90 min | 30-90 min | 60-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 8-80 | 3-20 | 12-100+ |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | Discussion Insights, Observed Tensions, Follow-up Questions | Prioritized Topics, Discussion Notes, Action Items | Table Notes, Emergent Themes, Shared Questions |
Tags1 shared | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | FacilitationDialogueLarge group | FacilitationAutonomyDialogue | FacilitationDialogueLarge groupSensemaking |