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| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-8 | 1-5 |
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 | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |
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