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Selected:Architecture Inception CanvasStakeholder MappingATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Power Interest Grid
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas | ![]() Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Facilitation Power Interest Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. | 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 many stakeholders compete for attention at once, the Power Interest Grid sorts them by influence and stake. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as a Power Interest Grid and a stakeholder-specific strategy. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 60–90 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Power Interest Grid, Strategy per Stakeholder |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | StakeholdersFacilitationAlignmentPlanning |



