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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action. | 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 | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 0.5-3 Tage | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 5-15 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | 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 | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean |
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
