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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Systems Mapping |  Facilitation Mind Mapping |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Systems Thinking Leverage Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | Leverage Points show exactly where interventions in a system produce a disproportionate effect. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a leverage map and action strategy. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 15-45 min | 1-2 h | Half day |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 1-10 | 4-12 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Leverage Map, Action Strategy |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | Systems thinkingChangeStrategy |