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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 Leverage Points with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
Leverage Points
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
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.Leverage Points show exactly where interventions in a system produce a disproportionate effect. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a leverage map and action strategy.The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design.arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes.
Complexitydifferent
HighHighMediumLow
Timedifferent
Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scopeHalf day60-120 min1-2 Tage
Participantsdifferent
Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting3-122-81-4
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 alternativesLeverage Map, Action StrategyCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication PlanArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
Systems thinkingChangeStrategy
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
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