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Criterion
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Stock and Flow Diagram method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Stock and Flow Diagram
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 of System Dynamics Simulation with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
System Dynamics Simulation
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.A Stock and Flow Diagram shows how stocks, inflows, and outflows shape a system over time. It is especially suited when growth, delays, or capacity limits determine the dynamics.LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail.System Dynamics Simulation makes assumptions about time, delay, and feedback testable through experiments. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a simulation model and scenario reports.
Complexitydifferent
HighHighMediumHigh
Timedifferent
Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope2-6 h3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additionalMehrere Tage bis Wochen
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders1-61 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people1-5 Modellierende, Stakeholder asynchron
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsStock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation HypothesesLean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checksSimulation Model, Scenario Reports
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking
ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean
Systems thinkingDynamicsSimulationAnalysis
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