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Criterion
Paper illustration for Soft Systems Methodology.
Systems Thinking
Soft Systems Methodology
Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Anonymous individual judgments pass through feedback loops to form a distribution.
Decision Making
Delphi Method
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
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 options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic.When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together.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.
Complexitydifferent
HighMediumHighMedium
Timedifferent
0.5-3 Tage45-90 min1-4 Wochen1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
5-152-86-30 Experten1-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change AgendaDecision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected OptionExpert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption NotesArgument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale
Tagsno overlap
Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking
DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs
ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy
SensemakingDecisionRationale
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