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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Facilitation Six Thinking Hats |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a topic gets stuck too quickly in the same thinking mode, Six Thinking Hats deliberately separates the perspectives. This means facts, risks, creativity, and emotional signals get worked through one after another instead of mixed together. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 45-90 min | 2-6 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 4-12 | 3-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Perspective Notes, Decision Inputs, Action Items | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | FacilitationOptionsDecision | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |