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Criterion
Paper illustration for TOWS Matrix.
Business Strategy
TOWS Matrix
Paper illustration of a branching impact map with a Why goal at the root, actor circles, How behavior changes and What options.
Product Strategy
Impact Mapping
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Purposedifferent
The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking.When a goal needs to be connected to several possible paths, it shows chains of impact instead of feature lists. It connects business goal, behavior change, and measures.Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-2 h45-90 min45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
3-103-82-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority ActionsImpact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery OptionsAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan
Tagsno overlap
StrategyAnalysisOptions
OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Constraint Analysis.
Decision Making
Constraint Analysis
Paper illustration of DIBB with its method-specific working model.
Product Strategy
DIBB
Gap Analysis method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
GAP Analysis
A hypothetical failure makes concrete risks, signals, and fitting mitigations visible.
Decision Making
Pre-Mortem