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Selected:Architecture Inception CanvasSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Product Vision BoardMcKinsey 7S
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Product Strategy Product Vision Board |  Business Strategy McKinsey 7S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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 a product needs a shared direction, it connects target audience, benefit, and business picture in a clear vision. It makes the envisioned future legible for the team. | McKinsey 7S checks whether Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff fit together. Organizational misalignments become visible across multiple levers as a result. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-8 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | 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 | Product Vision Board, Vision Statement, Assumptions and Validation Questions | 7S Assessment, Alignment Gaps, Change Actions |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | VisionCanvasStrategyAlignment | OrganizationStrategyAlignmentChange |