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Selected:Root Cause Tree AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects 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 process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
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 | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tags1 shared | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |
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