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| Criterion |  Architecture arc42 |  Decision Making DACI |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated. | 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. | In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 30-60 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 90-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 2-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility |