methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of DIBB with its method-specific working model.
Product Strategy
DIBB
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
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.DIBB helps clarify target groups, value, goals, and priorities by making the logic behind a decision explicit. It captures results as a DIBB document, belief list, bet list, and learning report.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.Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it.
Complexitydifferent
HighLowLowLow
Timedifferent
Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-2 h1-2 Tage45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-81-42-8
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsDIBB document, Belief list, Bet list, Learning reportArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
StrategyDecisionAssumptionsHypothesis
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
Add more methods