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Criterion
Four paper collections for projects, responsibilities, resources and archives.
Knowledge Modeling
PARA Method
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Paper fishbone diagram with a measurable effect at the head and six labeled cause branches.
Operations
Fishbone Diagram
Paper illustration for ALPEN Method
Operations
ALPEN Method
Purposedifferent
The PARA Method organizes knowledge into Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. It creates order when digital notes, files, and tasks no longer cleanly fit current work.Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it.When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers.With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowLowLow
Timedifferent
1-3 h Setup, laufend45-90 min30-60 min10-20 min daily
Participantsdifferent
12-82-81
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshopAsync
Outputdifferent
PARA Structure, Project Notes, Knowledge ArchiveAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning PlanFishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation BacklogDaily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes
Tagsno overlap
KnowledgeProductivityOrganization
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
Root causeQualityOperations
PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations
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