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Selected:Root Cause Tree AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Barrier AnalysisChange Analysis
| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations Barrier Analysis |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. | 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 risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. | 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 | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 2-4 h | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | 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 | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeSafetyIncident | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |