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Selected:Root Cause AnalysisATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Architecture Inception Canvas5 Whys
| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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 | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |