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Selected:Futures WheelSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Future Reality TreeChange Analysis
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Futures Wheel |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Futures Wheel helps explore the consequences of a decision, a trend, or a strategic move in a structured way. It makes visible which first, second, and third-order effects could arise from an event. | 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. | 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 a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 60-120 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 2-4 h | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Futures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic Signals | 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 | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | ForesightSystems thinkingSignals | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |