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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Systems Thinking Systems Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
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 | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points |
Tags1 shared | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange |
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