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Selected:Architecture Inception CanvasROAM BoardDesign ThinkingATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas | ![]() Agile ROAM Board | ![]() Innovation Design Thinking | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | When work needs to move between different states or columns, it makes that movement and its handoffs legible. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a ROAM Board and an Owner List. | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | High |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 20-40 min initial, dann laufend | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-15 | 4-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | ROAM Board, Owner List | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | RiskAgileTrackingAlignment | InnovationPrototypeResearch | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |



