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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Systems Thinking Systems Mapping |  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. | 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. | 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 | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-12 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points | 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 |
Tags1 shared | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality |
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