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 |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Systems Thinking Iceberg Model |  Systems Thinking Behavior Over Time Graph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | The Iceberg Model separates visible events from patterns, structures, and mental models. This turns a single observation into a deeper understanding of why a problem keeps recurring. | A Behavior Over Time Graph shows how a metric or observation develops over time. The method makes trends, breaks, and recurring patterns visible that get lost in snapshots. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 45-90 min | 30-60 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-10 | 3-8 | 2-10 | 1-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Iceberg Worksheet, Pattern Notes, Intervention Ideas | Behavior Over Time Graph, Trend Hypotheses, Key Events |
Tags1 shared | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | Systems thinkingRoot causePatterns | Systems thinkingPatternsDynamics |