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Selected:Architecture Decision RecordAssumption SurfacingRAID LogATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Assumption Surfacing |  Delivery RAID Log |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. | Helps clarify scope, sequence, and delivery flow in concrete terms. It makes work, boundaries, and order steerable. The result is captured as a RAID Log and a source for status reporting. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 45-90 min | 30 min Setup, dann laufend | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 2-8 | 1-3 maintaining, briefing for everyone | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | RAID Log, Status Report Source | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | RiskTrackingStakeholdersGovernance | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |