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Selected:ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)MVP Test MatrixAssumption SurfacingExperiment Canvas
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Product Discovery MVP Test Matrix | ![]() Decision Making Assumption Surfacing | ![]() Product Discovery Experiment Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 several minimal variants compete to answer the same question, it makes comparing and choosing between them cleaner. It separates problem, assumption, solution, and evidence. The result is captured as a Test Matrix and a Test Plan. | 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. | When experiments become unreadable after the fact, it arranges hypothesis, signal, and learning goal on a single canvas. It separates problem, assumption, solution, and evidence. The result is captured as a Completed Experiment Canvas and a Success Metric. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45-75 min | 45-90 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 | 2-8 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Test Matrix, Test Plan | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Completed Experiment Canvas, Success Metric |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryOptions | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryHypothesis |



