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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Rich Picture workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Rich Picture
Paper illustration of Futures Wheel with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
Futures Wheel
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.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.The Futures Wheel helps explore the consequences of a decision, a trend, or a strategic move in a structured way. It makes visible which first, second, and third-order effects could arise from an event.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 h30-90 min60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
3-122-103-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsRich Picture, Problem Framing NotesFutures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic Signals
Tags1 shared
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization
ForesightSystems thinkingSignals
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Often compared together

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

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