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Selected:SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)ALPEN MethodAfter-Action ReviewFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Operations ALPEN Method |  Operations After-Action Review |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 10-20 min daily | 20-45 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1 | 3-12 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
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 | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | LearningOperationsImprovement | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |