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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Visual Management | ![]() Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) | ![]() Business Strategy TOWS Matrix | ![]() Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With high tempo and many parallel topics, the method makes status, deviations, and priorities visible at a glance. It reduces search effort and prevents what matters from getting lost in daily work. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | Ongoing | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-20 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Visual Board, Status Indicators, Exception Cues | 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 | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | SignalsOperationsVisual management | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | StrategyAnalysisOptions | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |



