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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Paper illustration for CATWOE Analysis.
Systems Thinking
CATWOE Analysis
Rich Picture workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Rich Picture
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.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.A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-2 h45-90 min30-90 min
Participantsdifferent
3-123-82-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsCATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, ConstraintsRich Picture, Problem Framing Notes
Tags1 shared
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders
Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Soft Systems Methodology.
Systems Thinking
Soft Systems Methodology
Paper illustration for Accountability Ladder
Operations
Accountability Ladder
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping