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Selected:Force Field AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Architecture Inception CanvasMcKinsey 7S
| Criterion |  Decision Making Force Field Analysis |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Business Strategy McKinsey 7S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In change initiatives, supporting and restraining forces sit at the table at the same time. Force Field Analysis makes these tensions explicit and shows where change can be pushed forward by strengthening or relieving. | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | McKinsey 7S checks whether Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff fit together. Organizational misalignments become visible across multiple levers as a result. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-8 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Force Field Map, Change Levers, Risk Notes | 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 | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | 7S Assessment, Alignment Gaps, Change Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ChangeDecisionStrategy | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | OrganizationStrategyAlignmentChange |