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| Criterion |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Systems Thinking Leverage Points |  Business Strategy McKinsey 7S |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | Leverage Points show exactly where interventions in a system produce a disproportionate effect. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a leverage map and action strategy. | McKinsey 7S checks whether Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff fit together. Organizational misalignments become visible across multiple levers as a result. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | Half day | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-12 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Leverage Map, Action Strategy | 7S Assessment, Alignment Gaps, Change Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Systems thinkingChangeStrategy | OrganizationStrategyAlignmentChange |
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