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Criterion
Paper illustration of Futures Wheel with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
Futures Wheel
Process Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Operations
Process Mapping
A structured reflection surfaces what was liked, learned, lacked, and longed for. It is a conversation format and does not validate actions automatically.
Agile
4Ls Retrospective
Paper illustration of a review with planned work, actual event sequence, comparison, and assigned improvement actions.
Operations
After-Action Review
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.With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots.When a sprint should not only be assessed but also learned from, it captures experience in clear learning categories. It records what worked, what's missing, and what should run differently next time.After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLowLow
Timedifferent
60-120 min1-3 h45–75 min20-45 min
Participantsdifferent
3-103-10Team members involved3-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Futures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic SignalsProcess Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement ActionsLessons learned, Action items, Event summary
Tagsno overlap
ForesightSystems thinkingSignals
ProcessOperationsImprovement
RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam
LearningOperationsImprovement
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