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Criterion
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of System Dynamics Simulation with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
System Dynamics Simulation
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Stock and Flow Diagram method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Stock and Flow Diagram
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.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.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.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.
Complexitydifferent
HighHighLowHigh
Timedifferent
Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scopeMehrere Tage bis Wochen1-2 Tage2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders1-5 Modellierende, Stakeholder asynchron1-41-6
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsSimulation Model, Scenario ReportsArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewStock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation Hypotheses
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
Systems thinkingDynamicsSimulationAnalysis
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking
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