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Selected:Change AnalysisArgument MappingSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Architecture Decision Record
| Criterion |  Operations Change Analysis |  Decision Making Argument Mapping |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | When statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on. | 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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 1-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale | 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 | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | SensemakingDecisionRationale | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |