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| Criterion |  Facilitation Six Thinking Hats |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a topic gets stuck too quickly in the same thinking mode, Six Thinking Hats deliberately separates the perspectives. This means facts, risks, creativity, and emotional signals get worked through one after another instead of mixed together. | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-2 h | 1-3 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Perspective Notes, Decision Inputs, Action Items | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | FacilitationOptionsDecision | StrategyAnalysisOptions | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |