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Criterion
Systems Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Systems Mapping
Paper illustration for Future Reality Tree.
Systems Thinking
Future Reality Tree
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
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.A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation.With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 h2-4 h45-120 min
Participantsdifferent
3-123-82-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
System Map, Dependencies, Leverage PointsFuture Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved InjectionsTrade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange
Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Paper illustration for Constraint Analysis.
Decision Making
Constraint Analysis
Paper illustration for Decision Framing Workshop.
Decision Making
Decision Framing Workshop
Decision Tree method illustration showing its working structure
Decision Making
Decision Tree