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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Architecture C4 Model |  Operations Change Analysis |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 1-4 h | 45-120 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-5 | 2-6 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | 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 |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality |