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Selected:Architecture Inception CanvasArchitecture Communication CanvasSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Stakeholder Mapping
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | 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. | When an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 60-120 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 60–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication 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 | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange |