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Criterion
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of a branching impact map with a Why goal at the root, actor circles, How behavior changes and What options.
Product Strategy
Impact Mapping
Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan
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 goal needs to be connected to several possible paths, it shows chains of impact instead of feature lists. It connects business goal, behavior change, and measures.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.
Complexitydifferent
HighMediumLow
Timedifferent
Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope45-90 min45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-82-6
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsImpact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery OptionsCommunication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning
CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning
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Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Four paper stations connect system purpose, quality goals, risk cards and focused investigation with a target and gap profile.
Architecture
LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping