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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations Scatter Diagram |  Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. | 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 the question is whether two measures are related, the method makes patterns in the data picture visible. It separates felt correlations from relationships that actually show up in the data. | 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 | Low | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 30-90 min | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-4 | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | 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 | Scatter Plot, Korrelationsnotiz, Hypothesenliste | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Root causeQualityVisualization | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |