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Selected:Architecture Decision RecordA/B TestingATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Assumption Mapping
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Growth A/B Testing |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | When two variants compete, discussions quickly decide by taste rather than effect. A/B Testing checks behavior under controlled conditions and separates real improvement from chance or expectation effects. | 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. | When assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 1-4 Wochen | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 1-6 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Experiment results, Decision log, Learning summary | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ExperimentsGrowthAnalyticsValidation | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation |