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Selected:Architecture Inception CanvasStakeholder MappingSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)3-Circle Venn Diagram
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Facilitation 3-Circle Venn Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | 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 three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 60–90 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-45 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 | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | 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 | Venn Diagram, Overlap Notes, Differentiators |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ComparisonFacilitationAlignment |