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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Polarity Mapping | ![]() Operations After-Action Review | ![]() Agile Mad Sad Glad | ![]() Agile Sailboat Retrospective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. | When a team's or workshop's mood needs to become readable, it structures emotional signals with little setup. It makes strain, relief, and sources of energy tangible. | When a team wants to read momentum, brakes, and risks together, it offers an easily understandable picture of the situation. It makes drive, obstacles, and headwind visible in the same picture. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 20-45 min | 30-60 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 3-12 | 3-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance Actions | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Emotion Board, Themes, Action Items | Sailboat Board, Risks, Improvement Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership | LearningOperationsImprovement | RetrospectiveTeamReflection | RetrospectiveTeamImprovement |



