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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree | ![]() Systems Thinking Evaporating Cloud | ![]() 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. | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. | The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. | 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 | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 2-4 h | 60-120 min | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 3-8 | 2-8 | 2-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes |
Tags1 shared | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization |



