methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Value Stream Mapping workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Delivery
Value Stream Mapping
Paper illustration for Affinity Estimation.
Agile
Affinity Estimation
Paper illustration for Dot Estimation.
Facilitation
Dot Estimation
Paper illustration for Bucket System.
Agile
Bucket System
Purposedifferent
When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible.When many tasks need to be classified quickly, it sorts them by perceived effort and similarity. It reduces the effort of fine-grained estimation for large volumes.When size or effort can only be estimated roughly, Dot Estimation condenses the group's experience into a quick range. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as an Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, and Discussion Targets.When a large batch of work needs a fast, rough estimate, it sorts items into predefined size buckets. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, and Split Candidates.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 h30-90 min5-20 min30-90 min
Participantsdifferent
4-103-123-203-12
Formatsame
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck listAffinity Size Map, Grouped Estimates, Unclear ItemsEffort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion TargetsBucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, Split Candidates
Tagsno overlap
LeanFlowWasteDelivery
EstimationBacklogRelative sizing
EstimationEffortRisk
EstimationBacklogRelative sizing
Add more methods