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Selected:5 WhysArchitecture Inception CanvasRoot Cause AnalysisLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 1-2 h | 1-4 h | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-8 | 3-8 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean |