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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
Iceberg Model method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Iceberg Model
Paper illustration of Family Tree Analysis with its method-specific working model.
Operations
Family Tree Analysis
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.The Iceberg Model separates visible events from patterns, structures, and mental models. This turns a single observation into a deeper understanding of why a problem keeps recurring.For a series of incidents with a similar pattern, the method arranges individual events as branches of a common origin. It makes visible which conditions keep recurring.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
30–45 min60-120 min30-60 min2-4 h
Participantsdifferent
1-103-102-102-6
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea PromptsFutures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic SignalsIceberg Worksheet, Pattern Notes, Intervention IdeasFamily Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures
Tagsno overlap
FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions
ForesightSystems thinkingSignals
Systems thinkingRoot causePatterns
Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic
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