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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Innovation How Might We | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Facilitation Question Burst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With a stuck problem carrying many implicit assumptions, the method translates observations into open, workable questions. It sharpens the problem frame without pre-thinking the solution, turning frustration or fuzziness into a search space with clear direction. | 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 problem gets covered up too quickly with answers, Question Burst puts the better question at the center. The format opens the thinking space before the group commits to an interpretation. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 30–45 min | 0.5-3 Tage | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-10 | 5-15 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea Prompts | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Question List, Reframed Challenge, Learning Prompts |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | QuestionsReframingFacilitationSensemaking |



