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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Facilitation Lean Coffee | ![]() Decision Making Cynefin Workshop | ![]() Facilitation World Café |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 group without a fixed agenda needs to get into useful conversations quickly, Lean Coffee structures the start around interests rather than a presentation. The group itself negotiates which topics get time first and which wait. | 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. | When a group needs to connect many viewpoints in a short time, World Café creates a calm alternation between closeness and rotation. It sets thinking in motion without forcing the conversation into full-plenary rigidity. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 30-90 min | 60-180 min | 60-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 3-20 | 4-20 | 12-100+ |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Prioritized Topics, Discussion Notes, Action Items | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | Table Notes, Emergent Themes, Shared Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | FacilitationAutonomyDialogue | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | FacilitationDialogueLarge groupSensemaking |



