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Criterion
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper fishbone diagram with a measurable effect at the head and six labeled cause branches.
Operations
Fishbone Diagram
Paper illustration for Reverse Brainstorming
Innovation
Reverse Brainstorming
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.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 persistent errors or blockages, the method shifts the view to the opposite of the desired effect. It exposes the mechanics of failure and makes hidden causes easier to grasp. This makes improvement more concrete and the problem clearer.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 scope30-60 min30-60 min2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-83-123-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsFishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation BacklogReverse Ideas, Risk Themes, Solution IdeasFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
Root causeQualityOperations
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityRisk
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
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