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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Behavior Over Time Graph |  Decision Making Assumption Surfacing |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | A Behavior Over Time Graph shows how a metric or observation develops over time. The method makes trends, breaks, and recurring patterns visible that get lost in snapshots. | 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 an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | A Causal Loop Diagram makes feedback, reinforcement, and balance in a system legible. It uncovers side effects and self-reinforcement that stay hidden in linear explanations. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 45-90 min | 30-90 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Behavior Over Time Graph, Trend Hypotheses, Key Events | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingPatternsDynamics | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics |