Top
Search
What They Say...

"I had been consistently astounded by the way in which their methods for the visualization and clarification of reasoning processes enables one to impose order on chaos and see what is really going on in complex, contentious and tangled debates..."
- Dr Neil Byron, former Commissioner, Productivity Commission

"They are making a significant contribution to the improvement of analytical standards in the public policy arena, particularly among young professionals. Austhink deserves the country's thanks for this."
- Ross Babbage, Founder, Kokoda Foundation

 "Austhink's methods for dissecting and clarifying complex pieces of analysis or public policy are first class."
- LTGEN (ret) Peter Leahy, former Chief of Army

"That Austhink has devised new methods for doing this is enormously to its credit and I only hope more businesses will start to adopt such methods. It will save an immense amount of money, time and frustration for them."
- Bruce Page, Energy Consultant  

More

Methods and Tools

Austhink Consulting are leaders in the use of visual deliberation to improve thinking in organisations.  

Visual deliberation

Visual deliberation is, broadly, the use of visual aids to support deliberative processes such as debate and decision making.  

Typically, in the kind of visual deliberation in which Austhink specializes, the diagrams are "box and arrow" diagrams produced using special software such as bCisive or Rationale. 

Visual deliberation of this kind has many close variations, including 

  • Argument Mapping
  • Decision Mapping
  • Hypothesis Mapping
  • Issue Mapping
  • Dialogue Mapping

Austhink Consulting's experts naturally choose the most appropriate form for the particular deliberative challenge and context.  

 

Argument Mapping

Argument mapping is producing a diagram of some complex set of arguments.  Typically an argument map will focus on a particular proposition, such as Australia should adopt a carbon pricing scheme, and display the major reasons and objections, supporting evidence, rebuttals and so forth. 

For more see What is Argument Mapping? on Tim van Gelder's blog.

 

Decision Mapping

Decision mapping is using diagrams to support the making of deliberative decisions, i.e. decisions which are made by considering the various considerations (pros and cons, arguments and evidence) bearing on the options available.   Decision mapping is in effect applying argument mapping to the problem of choosing the most appropriate path of action.  

For more see What is Decision Mapping? on Tim van Gelder's blog.