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Criterion
Causal Loop Diagram workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Causal Loop Diagram
Design sheets and interface cards connect to jointly written pseudocode with highlighted unresolved questions.
Architecture
ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs)
Iceberg Model method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Iceberg Model
Purposedifferent
A Causal Loop Diagram makes feedback, reinforcement, and balance in a system legible. It uncovers side effects and self-reinforcement that stay hidden in linear explanations.ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification.The Iceberg Model separates visible events from patterns, structures, and mental models. This turns a single observation into a deeper understanding of why a problem keeps recurring.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-3 h2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
2-8Designers, developers as users, and facilitation2-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage PointsPrioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisionsIceberg Worksheet, Pattern Notes, Intervention Ideas
Tagsno overlap
FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics
ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks
Systems thinkingRoot causePatterns
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Behavior Over Time Graph.
Systems Thinking
Behavior Over Time Graph
Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
Stock and Flow Diagram method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Stock and Flow Diagram
Paper illustration of System Archetypes with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
System Archetypes