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Selected:ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)CATWOE AnalysisCynefin WorkshopSoft Systems Methodology
| Criterion |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | When problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic. | Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45-90 min | 60-180 min | 0.5-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-8 | 4-20 | 5-15 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking |