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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 45-90 min | 30-90 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-8 | 2-10 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas |
Tags1 shared | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality |