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Criterion
Paper illustration of the Force Field Analysis working structure.
Decision Making
Force Field Analysis
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
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.With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects.
Complexitydifferent
LowHighMedium
Timedifferent
45-90 minPreparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope45-120 min
Participantsdifferent
3-12Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting2-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Force Field Map, Change Levers, Risk NotesDomain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternativesTrade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides
Tagsno overlap
ChangeDecisionStrategy
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
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Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Paper illustration for OODA Loop.
Decision Making
OODA Loop
Paper illustration for Option Framing.
Decision Making
Option Framing