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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |  Operations Accountability Ladder |  Systems Thinking Polarity Mapping |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | With defensive reactions to problems, the method shifts the view from justification to ownership. It makes visible which reaction stage a person or team is currently stuck on. | 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. | Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 20-45 min | 1-2 h | 0.5-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 2-10 | 1-8 | 3-12 | 5-15 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Ownership Reflection, Action Commitment, Coaching Notes | Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance Actions | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | ResponsibilityLeadershipTeam | Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking |