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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Facilitation Six Thinking Hats | ![]() Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree | ![]() 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. | A Current Reality Tree condenses many symptoms into a few causal chains. The method makes visible which core problems drive several negative effects at once. | 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 | 3-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Perspective Notes, Decision Inputs, Action Items | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | FacilitationOptionsDecision | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |



