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| Criterion |  Decision Making Decision Tree |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For decisions with follow-on paths and dependencies, a linear comparison is often not enough. A Decision Tree shows how options branch under conditions and which consequences hang on each branch. | 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 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 3-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Decision Tree, Option Map, Assumption List | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries |
Tagsno overlap | DecisionTreeOptions | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions |