View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an improvement that still has to prove itself in everyday work, the method runs it through small learning loops. It connects planning, checking, and standardization into a repeatable learning mode. | 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 | Low | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-30 min | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | 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 | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |