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Selected:SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Alignment MappingValue Chain Analysis3-Circle Venn Diagram
| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Business Strategy Value Chain Analysis |  Facilitation 3-Circle Venn Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | 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. | When three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | Half day | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 4-12 | 3-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | 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 | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Value Chain Map, Lever List | Venn Diagram, Overlap Notes, Differentiators |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis | ComparisonFacilitationAlignment |