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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Polarity Mapping |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Innovation Lotus Blossom |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem. | When a group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-2 h | 45-90 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 4-12 | 3-10 | 5-30 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance Actions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment |