View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
Selected:SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Communication PlanArchitecture Decision RecordViews and Beyond
| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Delivery Communication Plan |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Views and Beyond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 45-90 min | 15-45 min | 1-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 | 1-3 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | 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 | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture |