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| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Systems Thinking Behavior Over Time Graph |  Systems Thinking Wardley Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | Wardley Mapping makes visible where an offering stands today and where it can evolve. The method connects user need, value chain, and evolution stages into a strategic basis for platform, build, or buy decisions. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 20-45 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-10 | 2-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | 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 | Behavior Over Time Graph, Trend Hypotheses, Key Events | Wardley Map, Strategic Options, Evolution Notes |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | Systems thinkingPatternsDynamics | StrategySystems thinkingDynamics |
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
