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| Criterion |  Facilitation Nominal Group Technique |  Facilitation Dot Voting |  Facilitation Lean Coffee |  Facilitation Fishbowl Discussion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When loud voices could dominate a round, Nominal Group Technique protects individual thinking time from group effects. It collects ideas separately first and only then enables shared weighting. | When a workshop has produced too many options and the group needs to condense quickly, dot voting makes preferences visible in a short time. It bundles individual votes into a solid signal for the next selection. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 60-120 min | 5-15 min | 30-90 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-12 | 3-20 | 3-20 | 8-80 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Ranked Ideas, Clarified Options, Group Priority | Ranked list, Consensus signal, Shortlist | Prioritized Topics, Discussion Notes, Action Items | Discussion Insights, Observed Tensions, Follow-up Questions |
Tags1 shared | FacilitationPrioritizationVotingInclusion | FacilitationVotingConsensusPrioritization | FacilitationAutonomyDialogue | FacilitationDialogueLarge group |