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Selected:Decision MatrixCausal Factor AnalysisATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Root Cause Tree Analysis
| Criterion |  Decision Making Decision Matrix |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. | 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. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | 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 | Medium | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 2-6 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |