Schritt 1What 3 to 6 variables do we need to understand to make the symptom explainable?
STEP 1 — Name the symptom and core variables
A good CLD starts with a few clear variables rather than too big a drawing.
Feedback loops45-75 minAnalyze dynamics
Canvas for diagnosis: Causal Loop Diagrams
Visual maps that clarify complex architecture problems by making circular cause-and-effect structures explicit.
Helps with recurring dynamics, escalations and unintended side effects.
Diagnostic workflow
These steps lead from observing a symptom to a grounded intervention.
Problem: 0/3Method analysis: 0/6Intervention: 0/3
- 1
Clarify symptom and variables
- 2
Formulate feedback
- 3
Add delays and signals
- 4
identify effective loop
- 5
Derive interventions
Schritt 2Which loop most strongly maintains the observed behavior?
STEP 2 — Analyze feedback
Now the actual causal loop diagram is created: variables, polarity, delays and dominant loops become explicit.
What is a CLD?
CLD stands for Causal Loop Diagram. It describes cause-effect loops in complex systems. This canvas uses a text-based variant.
Example: More services → more deployments → more errors → more governance → slower teams → more shadow IT
Schritt 3Where do we now change a loop instead of just reacting locally to symptoms?
STEP 3 — Derive interventions and tests
A CLD is useful when it results in concrete interventions in rules, information flows or loops.
Perspective check
0 / 9This checklist is not a second form. It is a completeness check. If something is missing, add the information in the text fields above.
Next bridges & export
Use the export functions for workshop documentation and jump directly into related archetypes or interventions when diagnosis turns into action.