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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Architecture arc42 |  Systems Thinking Current Reality Tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 2-6 h | 1-2 Tage | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 1-4 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Current Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality |