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Selected:Soft Systems MethodologyLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Fishbone Diagram5 Whys
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. | 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 | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 30-60 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | Root causeQualityOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |