View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |  Systems Thinking Stock and Flow Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | 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. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1-3 h | 2-6 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-8 | 3-8 | 1-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | Stock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation Hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking |