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Criterion
How Might We
Innovation
How Might We
Paper illustration of Futures Wheel with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
Futures Wheel
Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
Causal Loop Diagram workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Causal Loop Diagram
Purposedifferent
With a stuck problem carrying many implicit assumptions, the method translates observations into open, workable questions. It sharpens the problem frame without pre-thinking the solution, turning frustration or fuzziness into a search space with clear direction.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.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.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumHighMedium
Timedifferent
30–45 min60-120 min2-6 h1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
1-103-103-82-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea PromptsFutures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic SignalsCurrent Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention IdeasCausal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points
Tagsno overlap
FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions
ForesightSystems thinkingSignals
Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality
FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics
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