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Selected:Future Reality TreeSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Architecture Decision RecordEvaporating Cloud
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Systems Thinking Evaporating Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-45 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-3 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | 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 | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking |