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| Criterion |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Decision Making Option Framing |  Business Strategy McKinsey 7S |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | In early decisions, alternatives are often still vague, incomplete, or blended together. Option Framing brings every possibility into a comparable form and makes visible which variant actually fits the question. | 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. | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 45-120 min | 2-4 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-8 | 3-12 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | 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 | Option Frames, Assumption Notes, Comparable Shortlist, Decision Inputs | 7S Assessment, Alignment Gaps, Change Actions | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | OptionsDecision framingStrategyComparison | OrganizationStrategyAlignmentChange | StrategyAnalysisOptions |