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| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |  Facilitation 3-Circle Venn Diagram |  Business Strategy McKinsey 7S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. | 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. | McKinsey 7S checks whether Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff fit together. Organizational misalignments become visible across multiple levers as a result. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-3 h | 15-45 min | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-8 | 2-8 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
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 | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | Venn Diagram, Overlap Notes, Differentiators | 7S Assessment, Alignment Gaps, Change Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | ComparisonFacilitationAlignment | OrganizationStrategyAlignmentChange |