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Selected:Current Reality TreeArchitecture Decision RecordSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)8D Problem Solving
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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 an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | High | High |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 15-45 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-6 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-3 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternatives | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause |