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Criterion
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Behavior Over Time Graph.
Systems Thinking
Behavior Over Time Graph
Four paper stations connect system purpose, quality goals, risk cards and focused investigation with a target and gap profile.
Architecture
LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
Paper illustration of System Dynamics Simulation with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
System Dynamics Simulation
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.A Behavior Over Time Graph shows how a metric or observation develops over time. The method makes trends, breaks, and recurring patterns visible that get lost in snapshots.LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail.System Dynamics Simulation makes assumptions about time, delay, and feedback testable through experiments. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a simulation model and scenario reports.
Complexitydifferent
HighLowMediumHigh
Timedifferent
Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope20-45 min3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additionalMehrere Tage bis Wochen
Participantsdifferent
Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting1-101 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people1-5 Modellierende, Stakeholder asynchron
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
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 alternativesBehavior Over Time Graph, Trend Hypotheses, Key EventsLean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checksSimulation Model, Scenario Reports
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
Systems thinkingPatternsDynamics
ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean
Systems thinkingDynamicsSimulationAnalysis
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