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Criterion
Paper illustration for Change Analysis.
Operations
Change Analysis
Decision Tree method illustration showing its working structure
Decision Making
Decision Tree
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Root Cause Tree Analysis
Operations
Root Cause Tree Analysis
Purposedifferent
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 decisions with follow-on paths and dependencies, a linear comparison is often not enough. A Decision Tree shows how options branch under conditions and which consequences hang on each branch.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.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
MediumMediumHighMedium
Timedifferent
45-120 min30-90 minPreparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
2-61-6Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting2-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action ListDecision Tree, Option Map, Assumption ListDomain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternativesCause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures
Tagsno overlap
ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison
DecisionTreeOptions
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
Root causeTreeIncidentQuality
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