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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture C4 Model |  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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | 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 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 | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 15-45 min | 1-4 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-3 | 1-5 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |