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Selected:Soft Systems MethodologyLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Root Cause Analysis
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
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 keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
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 | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |
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