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| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling IBIS | ![]() Decision Making Constraint Analysis | ![]() Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram | ![]() Systems Thinking Theory of Constraints Thinking Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | 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. | The Theory of Constraints Thinking Process exposes a system's bottleneck and the logic behind it. It suits situations where many symptoms trace back to the same limiting relationship. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 30-90 min | 1-3 h | 0.5-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Current Reality Logic, Conflict Cloud, Future Reality Tree, Implementation Obstacles |
Tagsno overlap | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | Theory of ConstraintsConstraintsSystems thinkingCausality |



