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Criterion
Paper illustration for Soft Systems Methodology.
Systems Thinking
Soft Systems Methodology
Rich Picture workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Rich Picture
Paper illustration of a calm four-quadrant Assumption Map with hypothesis cards and emphasis on important assumptions with little evidence.
Product Discovery
Assumption 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.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 assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first.
Complexitydifferent
HighLowMedium
Timedifferent
0.5-3 Tage30-90 min45-60 min
Participantsdifferent
5-152-102-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change AgendaRich Picture, Problem Framing NotesAssumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking
Tagsno overlap
Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking
Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization
AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of Riskiest Assumption Test with a method-specific labelled workspace.
Product Discovery
Riskiest Assumption Test
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Paper illustration for CATWOE Analysis.
Systems Thinking
CATWOE Analysis