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| Criterion |  Innovation Lean Startup |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For uncertain business assumptions, the method forces the idea into contact with real market reactions early. It separates wishful picture, assumption, and observable behavior, so that learning becomes faster than planning. This translates uncertainty into measurable insight. | 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. | 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 | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-30 min | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | 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 | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | LeanStartupValidationMVP | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |