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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |  Operations Change Analysis |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | 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. | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 2-6 h | 45-120 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 3-8 | 2-6 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |