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Selected:Theory of Constraints Thinking ProcessLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)5 WhysATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Theory of Constraints Thinking Process |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Operations 5 Whys |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Theory of Constraints Thinking Process exposes a system's bottleneck and the logic behind it. It suits situations where many symptoms trace back to the same limiting relationship. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 15-30 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 2-6 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Current Reality Logic, Conflict Cloud, Future Reality Tree, Implementation Obstacles | 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 | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsConstraintsSystems thinkingCausality | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |