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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Rich Picture | ![]() Operations Process Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Operations After-Action Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | 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. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 1-3 h | 0.5-3 Tage | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-10 | 3-10 | 5-15 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | ProcessOperationsImprovement | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | LearningOperationsImprovement |



