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Selected:CATWOE AnalysisCausal Factor AnalysisATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Root Cause Analysis
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | 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. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 2-6 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-8 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |