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| Criterion |  Decision Making Pareto Analysis |  Decision Making Decision Matrix |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In many problem situations, effect is distributed unequally across many causes. A Pareto Analysis separates the few drivers with high leverage from the long remainder and focuses attention on what measurably moves the needle. | When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. | 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 | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | 45-90 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Pareto Chart, Top Causes, Focus List | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option | 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 | PrioritizationQualityFocusRoot cause | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality |
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