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Selected:GAP AnalysisArchitecture Communication CanvasSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Communication Plan
| Criterion |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Delivery Communication Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | 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 many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 60-120 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | 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 | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning |