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Selected:Iceberg ModelATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Family Tree AnalysisRoot Cause Analysis
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Iceberg Model |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Iceberg Model separates visible events from patterns, structures, and mental models. This turns a single observation into a deeper understanding of why a problem keeps recurring. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | For a series of incidents with a similar pattern, the method arranges individual events as branches of a common origin. It makes visible which conditions keep recurring. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 2-4 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-6 | 3-8 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Iceberg Worksheet, Pattern Notes, Intervention Ideas | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingRoot causePatterns | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |