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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Polarity Mapping |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely. | 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. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance Actions | 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 | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |
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