View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |  Architecture ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs) |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification. | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. |
Complexitysame | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Designers, developers as users, and facilitation | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | Prioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisions | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks | StrategyAnalysisOptions |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
