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Criterion
Systems Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Systems Mapping
Paper illustration for Bucket System.
Agile
Bucket System
Paper illustration for Ideal Days.
Agile
Ideal Days
Purposedifferent
Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins.When a large batch of work needs a fast, rough estimate, it sorts items into predefined size buckets. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, and Split Candidates.When effort needs to be thought of as real working time, it offers a simple common denominator for comparison. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as Ideal Day Estimates, Assumption Notes, and Capacity Caveats.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-3 h30-90 min15-60 min
Participantsdifferent
3-123-122-9
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
System Map, Dependencies, Leverage PointsBucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, Split CandidatesIdeal Day Estimates, Assumption Notes, Capacity Caveats
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange
EstimationBacklogRelative sizing
EstimationEffortAgile
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Affinity Estimation.
Agile
Affinity Estimation
Paper illustration for Dot Estimation.
Facilitation
Dot Estimation
Paper illustration for Future Reality Tree.
Systems Thinking
Future Reality Tree