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Criterion
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Paper illustration for Reverse Brainstorming
Innovation
Reverse Brainstorming
Purposedifferent
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 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.For persistent errors or blockages, the method shifts the view to the opposite of the desired effect. It exposes the mechanics of failure and makes hidden causes easier to grasp. This makes improvement more concrete and the problem clearer.
Complexitydifferent
HighMediumLow
Timedifferent
Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-2 h30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders4-123-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision QuestionsReverse Ideas, Risk Themes, Solution Ideas
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityRisk
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Round Robin Brainstorming
Innovation
Round Robin Brainstorming
A paper-based illustration representing Brainstorming with its core stages and visible working result.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Four paper stations connect system purpose, quality goals, risk cards and focused investigation with a target and gap profile.
Architecture
LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom