View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Innovation How Might We |  Systems Thinking Stock and Flow Diagram |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | A Stock and Flow Diagram shows how stocks, inflows, and outflows shape a system over time. It is especially suited when growth, delays, or capacity limits determine the dynamics. | 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. | A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–45 min | 2-6 h | 45-90 min | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 1-6 | 3-8 | 2-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea Prompts | Stock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation Hypotheses | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes |
Tagsno overlap | FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions | DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization |