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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Views and Beyond method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Views and Beyond
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Purposedifferent
When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer.Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question.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.For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumHighHigh
Timedifferent
45–90 min1-3 TageSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
3-101-4Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasArchitecture Views, Cross-view Notes, RationalePrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
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