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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Business Strategy VRIO Framework | ![]() Business Strategy Business Model Stress Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | The VRIO Framework rates resources and capabilities on whether they are Valuable, Rare, Inimitable, and Organized. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a VRIO table and strategic actions. | A Business Model Stress Test checks how well a business model holds up under pressure and headwinds. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a stress-test report and action plan per scenario. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 Tage | 90-180 min | Half day |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-4 | 3-6 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | 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 | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | VRIO Table, Strategic Actions | Stress Test Report, Action Plan per Scenario |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | StrategyDiagnosisBusiness modelCapability | StrategyBusiness modelRiskDiagnosis |



