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Selected:LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Change AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)5 Whys
| Criterion |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Operations Change Analysis |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. | 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. | 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. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 45-120 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 2-6 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | 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 | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |