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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 branching impact map with a Why goal at the root, actor circles, How behavior changes and What options.
Product Strategy
Impact Mapping
Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan
Gap Analysis method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
GAP Analysis
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 a goal needs to be connected to several possible paths, it shows chains of impact instead of feature lists. It connects business goal, behavior change, and measures.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.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.
Complexitydifferent
HighMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope45-90 min45-90 min1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting3-82-62-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + 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 alternativesImpact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery OptionsCommunication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message CadenceGap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning
CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning
StrategyAnalysisPlanning
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