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| Criterion |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Decision Making Trade-off Analysis |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |  Decision Making Decision Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects. | 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 several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 45-120 min | 1-3 h | 45-90 min |
Participantssame | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Trade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option |
Tagsno overlap | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs |