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Criterion
Paper illustration of a branching impact map with a Why goal at the root, actor circles, How behavior changes and What options.
Product Strategy
Impact Mapping
Paper illustration of Value Chain Analysis with its method-specific working model.
Business Strategy
Value Chain Analysis
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Gap Analysis method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
GAP Analysis
Purposedifferent
When a goal needs to be connected to several possible paths, it shows chains of impact instead of feature lists. It connects business goal, behavior change, and measures.Value Chain Analysis shows where value is created, costs accrue, and differentiation becomes possible along the process. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a value-chain map and lever list.ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation.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.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighHighMedium
Timedifferent
45-90 minHalf daySeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
3-83-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Impact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery OptionsValue Chain Map, Lever ListPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsGap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes
Tagsno overlap
OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning
StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
StrategyAnalysisPlanning
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