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Selected:Accountability LadderATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)CATWOE AnalysisExpectation Mapping
| Criterion | ![]() Operations Accountability Ladder | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Facilitation Expectation Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With defensive reactions to problems, the method shifts the view from justification to ownership. It makes visible which reaction stage a person or team is currently stuck on. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | When roles, interfaces, or projects fail because of differing expectations, Expectation Mapping surfaces these differences. It shows what each side takes for granted and where the pictures diverge. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45-90 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-8 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Ownership Reflection, Action Commitment, Coaching Notes | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Expectation Map, Alignment Notes, Agreements |
Tagsno overlap | ResponsibilityLeadershipTeam | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | AlignmentStakeholdersTeam |



