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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Leverage Points |  Engineering Fault Isolation |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |  Systems Thinking Stock and Flow Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Leverage Points show exactly where interventions in a system produce a disproportionate effect. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a leverage map and action strategy. | In technical failures, the visible symptom often gets mixed up with the actual cause. Fault Isolation narrows the fault space and progressively reduces which part of the system is truly affected. | 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 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 | High | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | Half day | 30-180 min | 1-3 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 1-6 | 2-8 | 1-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Leverage Map, Action Strategy | Fault Isolation Map, Test Log, Excluded Hypotheses, Narrowed Fault Area | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | Stock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation Hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingChangeStrategy | TroubleshootingDiagnosisEngineering | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking |