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Selected:Current Reality TreeSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)5 WhysCausal Factor Analysis
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations 5 Whys |  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. | 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 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. | 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 | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-30 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas | 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 | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |