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| Criterion |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | 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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-4 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | 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 | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisOptions | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |