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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping |  Innovation Lotus Blossom |  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 an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. | When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 60–90 min | 45-90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-8 | 3-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |