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Criterion
Software Architecture Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Software Architecture Canvas
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for 3-Circle Venn Diagram
Facilitation
3-Circle Venn Diagram
Stakeholder Mapping
Facilitation
Stakeholder Mapping
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 three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowHighLowLow
Timedifferent
1-2 hPreparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope15-45 min60–90 min
Participantsdifferent
3-10Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting2-82-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality AttributesDomain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternativesVenn Diagram, Overlap Notes, DifferentiatorsStakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes
Tagsno overlap
CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
ComparisonFacilitationAlignment
StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange
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