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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Paper illustration of a branching impact map with a Why goal at the root, actor circles, How behavior changes and What options.
Product Strategy
Impact Mapping
Paper illustration for Smoke Test.
Product Discovery
Smoke Test
Paper illustration for Theory of Change
Systems Thinking
Theory of Change
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.When a goal needs to be connected to several possible paths, it shows chains of impact instead of feature lists. It connects business goal, behavior change, and measures.When demand only needs to be roughly verified, it tests interest with minimal effort. It measures whether people would take a next step at all.Theory of Change translates a desired impact into a traceable chain of change. It makes assumptions, intermediate goals, and measurement points visible before a program is rolled out at scale.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLowHigh
Timedifferent
1-2 h45-90 min1-5 Tage2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
3-123-8Nutzertraffic4-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopAsyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsImpact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery OptionsInterest Metrics, Conversion Signal, Learning NoteTheory of Change Map, Assumptions, Outcome Measures
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning
ValidationExperimentsDemandGrowth
ImpactOutcomesSystems thinkingStrategy
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