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Selected:Architecture Decision RecordCost of DelayATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Risk Matrix
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Delivery Cost of Delay |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Decision Making Risk Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Helps clarify scope, order, and delivery flow in concrete terms. It makes work, constraints, and sequence manageable. The result is captured as a Cost of Delay table and prioritization sequence. | 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 project faces many possible disruptions, it quickly becomes unclear which risks deserve attention first. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Risk Matrix and a Top Risk List. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 90-180 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 3-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | CoD Table, Prioritization Sequence | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Risk Matrix, Top Risk List |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | PrioritizationDeliveryEconomicsDecision | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | RiskDecisionPrioritizationAssessment |