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Selected:LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)Constraint AnalysisGAP AnalysisSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) | ![]() Decision Making Constraint Analysis | ![]() Business Strategy GAP Analysis | ![]() Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. | When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 30-90 min | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 2-8 | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk 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 |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality |



