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Selected:C4 ModelRoot Cause Tree AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Scatter Diagram
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture C4 Model | ![]() Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis | ![]() Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) | ![]() Operations Scatter Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. | 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. | SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning. | When the question is whether two measures are related, the method makes patterns in the data picture visible. It separates felt correlations from relationships that actually show up in the data. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternatives | Scatter Plot, Korrelationsnotiz, Hypothesenliste |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeQualityVisualization |



