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Criterion
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
Causal Loop Diagram workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Causal Loop Diagram
Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
Purposedifferent
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.A Causal Loop Diagram makes feedback, reinforcement, and balance in a system legible. It uncovers side effects and self-reinforcement that stay hidden in linear explanations.A Current Reality Tree condenses many symptoms into a few causal chains. The method makes visible which core problems drive several negative effects at once.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumHigh
Timedifferent
45-120 min1-3 h2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
2-82-83-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Trade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted DownsidesCausal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage PointsCurrent Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas
Tagsno overlap
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics
Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality
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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 a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Stock and Flow Diagram method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Stock and Flow Diagram
Paper illustration for Theory of Constraints Thinking Process.
Systems Thinking
Theory of Constraints Thinking Process