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Selected:Systems MappingAssumption MappingSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Riskiest Assumption Test
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Systems Mapping |  Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Product Discovery Riskiest Assumption Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins. | When assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. | 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 idea hinges on one critical unknown, it prioritizes testing that exact piece of uncertainty first. It separates problem, assumption, solution, and evidence. The result is captured as a prioritized list of assumptions, a test plan, and a result report. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 45-60 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 Wochen pro Iteration |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking | 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 | Prioritized Assumption List, Test Plan, Results Report |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryAssumptions |