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Selected:Architecture Decision RecordATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Acceptance Criteria WorkshopExample Mapping
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Agile Acceptance Criteria Workshop |  Agile Example 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. | 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 a story needs clear checkpoints before implementation, it sharpens expectation and scope together. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as Acceptance Criteria and a Story Update. | When a story carries business rules and exceptions, it brings clarity before implementation. It makes examples, open questions, and boundaries visible enough that the logic becomes jointly sound. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 20-40 min pro Story | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-6 | 3-7 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Acceptance Criteria, Story Update | Example Map, Acceptance Criteria, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | AgileRequirementsRefinementBehavior-Driven Development | Behavior-Driven DevelopmentRequirementsExamplesRefinement |