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Criterion
Paper illustration for Soft Systems Methodology.
Systems Thinking
Soft Systems Methodology
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Paper illustration of Team Cognitive Load Assessment with its method-specific working model.
Team Design
Team Cognitive Load Assessment
Rich Picture workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
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.Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely.When a team juggles too many domains, systems, or handoffs, it measures mental overload as an organizational problem. It clarifies responsibility, interaction, and load between teams. The result is captured as a cognitive-load profile and action list.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
HighMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
0.5-3 Tage1-2 h60-90 min30-90 min
Participantsdifferent
5-153-123-122-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change AgendaPolarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsCognitive Load Profile, Action ListRich Picture, Problem Framing Notes
Tagsno overlap
Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
TeamComplexityImprovementDiagnosis
Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization
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