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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram | ![]() Product Strategy Lean Canvas | ![]() Product Discovery Assumption Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking Stock and Flow Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When an early product bet still has too many open points, it brings target group, problem, and assumptions into a single view. It condenses the idea so core risks become nameable. | When assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. | A Stock and Flow Diagram shows how stocks, inflows, and outflows shape a system over time. It is especially suited when growth, delays, or capacity limits determine the dynamics. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 45-90 min | 45-60 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-6 | 2-8 | 1-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Lean Canvas, Core Assumptions, Experiment Backlog | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking | Stock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation Hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | StartupLeanAssumptionsBusiness model | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation | DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking |



