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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Facilitation Alignment Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking Rich Picture |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 1-2 h | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 4-12 | 2-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization |
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