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Selected:Fault Tree AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Barrier AnalysisChange Analysis
| Criterion |  Operations Fault Tree Analysis |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations Barrier Analysis |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a critical top event with several possible triggers, the method logically models failure paths. It makes visible which combinations of conditions can lead to damage. | 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 risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 2-4 h | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Fault Tree, Critical Paths, Cause Hypotheses, Control Actions | 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 | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | RiskRoot causeSafety | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeSafetyIncident | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |