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Selected:ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Open Space TechnologySAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)Alignment Mapping
| Criterion |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Open Space Technology |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 complex topic does not yet have a fitting agenda, Open Space Technology hands topic ownership back to the participants. The format suits questions that only move forward when real interest determines the order. | SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 0.5-2 Tage | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 20-500+ | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | 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 | Session Marketplace, Proceedings, Action Topics | Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternatives | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | FacilitationLarge groupAutonomy | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |