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Selected:IBIS SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Architecture Decision Record Argument Mapping

Criterion	Knowledge Modeling IBIS	Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)	Architecture Architecture Decision Record	Decision Making Argument Mapping
Purposedifferent	IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus.	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.	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.	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	Medium	High	Low	Medium
Timedifferent	1-3 h	Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope	15-45 min	1-3 h
Participantsdifferent	2-8	Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting	1-3	1-8
Formatdifferent	Workshop + async	Workshop + async	Async	Workshop + async
Outputdifferent	Issue Map, Positions, Argument 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	ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale	Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale
Tagsno overlap	RationaleKnowledgeDecision	ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality	ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance	SensemakingDecisionRationale

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