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| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Product Strategy Impact Mapping |  Business Strategy Value Chain Analysis |  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. | Value Chain Analysis shows where value is created, costs accrue, and differentiation becomes possible along the process. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a value-chain map and lever list. | 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 | High | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 45-90 min | Half day | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-8 | 3-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | 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 | Impact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery Options | Value Chain Map, Lever List | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning | StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis | StrategyAnalysisPlanning |