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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram | ![]() Systems Thinking Stock and Flow Diagram | ![]() Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | When assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 2-6 h | 45-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Stock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation Hypotheses | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking |
Tagsno overlap | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation |
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