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Criterion
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper fishbone diagram with a measurable effect at the head and six labeled cause branches.
Operations
Fishbone Diagram
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
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.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.When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers.For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability.
Complexitydifferent
HighLowLowHigh
Timedifferent
Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-2 Tage30-60 min2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders1-42-83-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewFishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation BacklogFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
Root causeQualityOperations
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
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