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Selected:Current Reality Tree5 WhysLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Causal Factor Analysis
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |  Operations 5 Whys |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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 single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | 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. | 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 | High | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 15-30 min | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-6 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | 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 | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |