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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |  Innovation Rapid Ideation |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Innovation Lotus Blossom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | When a decision needs to be prepared quickly, the method generates many solution-close variants in a short time. It deliberately relies on pace to undercut self-censorship and perfectionism. This quickly produces a usable field for prioritization and further work. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 5-20 min | 2-6 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-20 | 3-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | Ideenpool, Roh-Shortlist, Cluster | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | BrainstormingIdeationDivergenceSpeed | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop |