View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology | ![]() Agile Starfish Retrospective | ![]() Agile Start Stop Continue |
|---|---|---|---|
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 improvement options need to be sorted more finely than just start and stop, it brings observations into clear kinds of action. This makes visible what should be done more, less, newly, or continued. | When a team wants to deliberately adjust its working behavior, it makes habits visible and assessable. It focuses on concrete changes instead of diffuse mood. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 45-90 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 4-12 | 3-12 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Starfish Board, Practice Changes, Experiments | Start Stop Continue Board, Improvement Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | RetrospectiveImprovementExperimentsTeam | RetrospectiveImprovementTeamReflection |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.






