View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Futures Wheel | ![]() Facilitation Alignment Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Futures Wheel helps explore the consequences of a decision, a trend, or a strategic move in a structured way. It makes visible which first, second, and third-order effects could arise from an event. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 60-120 min | 1-2 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-12 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Futures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic Signals | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints |
Tagsno overlap | ForesightSystems thinkingSignals | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.






