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Selected:Change AnalysisArgument MappingSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Cynefin Workshop
| Criterion | ![]() Operations Change Analysis | ![]() Decision Making Argument Mapping | ![]() Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) | ![]() Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 60-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 1-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 4-20 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
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 | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes |
Tagsno overlap | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | SensemakingDecisionRationale | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ComplexitySensemakingDecision |



