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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Decision Making Argument Mapping |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | 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. | A Current Reality Tree condenses many symptoms into a few causal chains. The method makes visible which core problems drive several negative effects at once. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 30-90 min | 1-3 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 2-8 | 1-8 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | SensemakingDecisionRationale | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality |