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Selected:Software Architecture CanvasSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Stakeholder MappingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Stakeholder 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 an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 60–90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-8 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | 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 | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |