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Selected:Software Architecture CanvasSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Alignment MappingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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 several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 4-12 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | 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 | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |