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Selected:Behavior Over Time GraphArchitecture Decision RecordViews and BeyondATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Behavior Over Time Graph |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | A Behavior Over Time Graph shows how a metric or observation develops over time. The method makes trends, breaks, and recurring patterns visible that get lost in snapshots. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 15-45 min | 1-3 Tage | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 1-3 | 1-4 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Behavior Over Time Graph, Trend Hypotheses, Key Events | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingPatternsDynamics | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |