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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 DACI
Decision Making
DACI
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration of Decision Rights Mapping with its method-specific working model.
Decision Making
Decision Rights Mapping
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.In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated.An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale.In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement.
Complexitydifferent
HighLowMediumMedium
Timedifferent
Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope30-60 min1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung90-180 min
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-103-20 Reviewer4-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsDACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision LogRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsDecision Rights Matrix, Agreement
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility
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