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| Criterion |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Decision Making Option Framing |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Decision Making Force Field Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | In early decisions, alternatives are often still vague, incomplete, or blended together. Option Framing brings every possibility into a comparable form and makes visible which variant actually fits the question. | 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. | In change initiatives, supporting and restraining forces sit at the table at the same time. Force Field Analysis makes these tensions explicit and shows where change can be pushed forward by strengthening or relieving. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 45-120 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Option Frames, Assumption Notes, Comparable Shortlist, Decision Inputs | 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 | Force Field Map, Change Levers, Risk Notes |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisOptions | OptionsDecision framingStrategyComparison | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ChangeDecisionStrategy |