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 |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |  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. | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. | 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 | High |
Timedifferent | Half day | 1-3 h | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Value Chain Map, Lever List | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | 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 |
Tags1 shared | StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
