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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Process Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Operations
Process Mapping
Paper illustration for Bottleneck Analysis.
Operations
Bottleneck Analysis
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.With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots.For a flow that backs up at one point, the method looks for the capacity limit with the greatest leverage. It explains why extra effort elsewhere barely improves throughput.
Complexitysame
MediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 h1-3 h1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
3-123-103-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsProcess Map, Handoff List, Improvement BacklogBottleneck Map, Flow Metrics, Improvement Options, Follow-up Measures
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
ProcessOperationsImprovement
FlowMeasurementConstraints
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Theory of Constraints.
Operations
Theory of Constraints
Paper illustration of a review with planned work, actual event sequence, comparison, and assigned improvement actions.
Operations
After-Action Review
Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk