View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Business Strategy Value Chain Analysis |  Operations Change Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Value Chain Analysis shows where value is created, costs accrue, and differentiation becomes possible along the process. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a value-chain map and lever list. | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | High |
Timedifferent | Half day | 45-120 min | 15-30 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-6 | 2-6 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Value Chain Map, Lever List | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | 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 |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality |