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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Polarity Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking Evaporating Cloud | ![]() Decision Making Argument Mapping | ![]() Decision Making Decision Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. | When statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on. | When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. |
Complexitysame | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 60-120 min | 1-3 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 2-8 | 1-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance Actions | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking | SensemakingDecisionRationale | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs |



