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Selected:Alignment MappingRisk StormingATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Consensus Workshop
| Criterion |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Architecture Risk Storming |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | Helps clarify architecture context, options, and consequences in concrete terms. It organizes technical context, alternatives, and consequences. The result is captured as an Annotated Diagram, a Prioritized Risk List, and an Action Backlog. | 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 group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 60-90 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 | 4-12 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 5-30 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Annotated Diagram, Prioritized Risk List, Action Backlog | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | RiskArchitectureWorkshopValidation | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment |