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| Criterion | ![]() Facilitation World Café | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Facilitation Open Space Technology | ![]() Facilitation Lean Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a group needs to connect many viewpoints in a short time, World Café creates a calm alternation between closeness and rotation. It sets thinking in motion without forcing the conversation into full-plenary rigidity. | Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action. | When a complex topic does not yet have a fitting agenda, Open Space Technology hands topic ownership back to the participants. The format suits questions that only move forward when real interest determines the order. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 60-180 min | 0.5-3 Tage | 0.5-2 Tage | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 12-100+ | 5-15 | 20-500+ | 3-20 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Table Notes, Emergent Themes, Shared Questions | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Session Marketplace, Proceedings, Action Topics | Prioritized Topics, Discussion Notes, Action Items |
Tagsno overlap | FacilitationDialogueLarge groupSensemaking | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | FacilitationLarge groupAutonomy | FacilitationAutonomyDialogue |



