View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |  Decision Making Argument Mapping |  Architecture Request for Comments |  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. | 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. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. | 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 | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 1-3 h | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 0.5-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 2-10 | 1-8 | 3-20 Reviewer | 5-15 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | SensemakingDecisionRationale | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking |