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Selected:Soft Systems MethodologyLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Rich PictureCynefin Workshop
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |  Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. | 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. | When problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 30-90 min | 60-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 2-10 | 4-20 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | ComplexitySensemakingDecision |