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Criterion
Systems Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Systems Mapping
Paper illustration for Risk Storming.
Architecture
Risk Storming
Paper illustration for Future Reality Tree.
Systems Thinking
Future Reality Tree
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.Helps clarify architecture context, options, and consequences in concrete terms. It organizes technical context, alternatives, and consequences. The result is captured as an Annotated Diagram, a Prioritized Risk List, and an Action Backlog.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.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowHigh
Timedifferent
1-3 h60-90 min2-4 h
Participantsdifferent
3-124-123-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
System Map, Dependencies, Leverage PointsAnnotated Diagram, Prioritized Risk List, Action BacklogFuture Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange
RiskArchitectureWorkshopValidation
Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Design sheets and interface cards connect to jointly written pseudocode with highlighted unresolved questions.
Architecture
ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs)
Paper illustration of a calm four-quadrant Assumption Map with hypothesis cards and emphasis on important assumptions with little evidence.
Product Discovery
Assumption Mapping
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Evaporating Cloud.
Systems Thinking
Evaporating Cloud