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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Agile Sprint Retrospective | ![]() Agile Mad Sad Glad | ![]() Agile 4Ls Retrospective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 sprint is over and friction shouldn't simply be carried forward, it opens the view onto collaboration and patterns. It creates space to see causes and changes together. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | Up to 3 hours for a one-month Sprint; shorter Sprints are usually shorter | 30-60 min | 45–75 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Scrum Team | 3-10 | Team members involved |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Improvement actions, Team agreements | Emotion Board, Themes, Action Items | 4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | RetrospectiveImprovementLearning | RetrospectiveTeamReflection | RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam |



