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Criterion
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Paper illustration for 3-Circle Venn Diagram
Facilitation
3-Circle Venn Diagram
Stakeholder Mapping
Facilitation
Stakeholder 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.When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic.When three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies.When an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first.
Complexitydifferent
HighMediumLowLow
Timedifferent
Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope45-90 min15-45 min60–90 min
Participantsdifferent
Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting2-82-82-8
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + 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 alternativesDecision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected OptionVenn Diagram, Overlap Notes, DifferentiatorsStakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs
ComparisonFacilitationAlignment
StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange
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