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Selected:Change AnalysisEmpathy MappingSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Affinity Diagramming
| Criterion |  Operations Change Analysis |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | 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 research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 30–60 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 4-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | 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 | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |