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| Criterion |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Product Strategy Impact Mapping |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. | 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. | When a goal needs to be connected to several possible paths, it shows chains of impact instead of feature lists. It connects business goal, behavior change, and measures. | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 30-90 min | 45-90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-8 | 3-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Impact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery Options | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning | StrategyAnalysisOptions |