View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
Selected:Working BackwardsRoot Cause AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Change Analysis
| Criterion |  Product Discovery Working Backwards |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When the target state and benefit need to be clear first, it thinks backward from the desired outcome into the product logic. It sharpens vision, objections, and value proposition before elaboration. | 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. | 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 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 | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 4-8 h, mehrere Iterationen | 1-4 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Future Press Release, FAQ, Vision Statement | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | 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 | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | VisionNarrativeAlignment | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |