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Selected:ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Communication PlanSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)arc42
| Criterion |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Delivery Communication Plan |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost. | SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45-90 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-6 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1-4 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence | Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternatives | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |