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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Systems Thinking Systems Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. | Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 2-4 h | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 3-8 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange |
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