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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Facilitation Alignment Mapping | ![]() Agile 4Ls Retrospective | ![]() Agile Mad Sad Glad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | 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. | When a sprint should not only be assessed but also learned from, it captures experience in clear learning categories. It records what worked, what's missing, and what should run differently next time. | When a team's or workshop's mood needs to become readable, it structures emotional signals with little setup. It makes strain, relief, and sources of energy tangible. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-2 h | 45–75 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 4-12 | Team members involved | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | 4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement Actions | Emotion Board, Themes, Action Items |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam | RetrospectiveTeamReflection |



