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Selected:5 WhysRoot Cause AnalysisLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Root Cause Tree Analysis
| Criterion | ![]() Operations 5 Whys | ![]() Operations Root Cause Analysis | ![]() Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) | ![]() Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 1-4 h | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-8 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | 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 | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |



