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Selected:Constraint AnalysisArchitecture Decision RecordSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Argument Mapping
| Criterion |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Decision Making Argument Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | 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. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 15-45 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-3 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | ADR File, Decision Log, 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 | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | SensemakingDecisionRationale |