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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Product Discovery Problem Interview | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Architecture Risk Storming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 the picture of the problem still needs to become solid, it asks about real situations and consequences. It separates genuine suffering from mere interest in a solution. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | Helps clarify architecture context, options, and consequences in concrete terms. It organizes technical context, alternatives, and consequences. The result is captured as an Annotated Diagram, a Prioritized Risk List, and an Action Backlog. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 30-60 min je Interview | 1-2 Tage | 60-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 5-12 Interviews | 1-4 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | 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 | Problem Evidence, Risk Notes, Customer Segments | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Annotated Diagram, Prioritized Risk List, Action Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | DiscoveryInterviewsValidation | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | RiskArchitectureWorkshopValidation |



