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Selected:Future Reality TreeSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Leverage PointsEvaporating Cloud
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Systems Thinking Leverage Points |  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. | Leverage Points show exactly where interventions in a system produce a disproportionate effect. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a leverage map and action strategy. | The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | Half day | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-12 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | 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 | Leverage Map, Action Strategy | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Systems thinkingChangeStrategy | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking |