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| Criterion | ![]() Facilitation Mind Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Systems Thinking Systems Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | 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. | Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins. | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 3-8 | 3-12 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections |
Tagsno overlap | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange |



