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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Innovation Brainstorming | ![]() Facilitation 1-2-4-All | ![]() Innovation Lotus Blossom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | When many people in a group too rarely get to speak, 1-2-4-All distributes thinking time more fairly. The format builds participation step by step and makes quiet or still-unformed thoughts usable faster. | When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 30-60 min | 10-20 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 4-12 | 4-100+ | 3-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Idea List, Shared Insights, Emergent Themes | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | FacilitationInclusionIdeation | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop |



