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Selected:Decision TreeChange AnalysisATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Root Cause Tree Analysis
| Criterion |  Decision Making Decision Tree |  Operations Change Analysis |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For decisions with follow-on paths and dependencies, a linear comparison is often not enough. A Decision Tree shows how options branch under conditions and which consequences hang on each branch. | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. | 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 | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 45-120 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 2-6 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Decision Tree, Option Map, Assumption List | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | 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 | DecisionTreeOptions | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |