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Selected:BrainstormingATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Consensus WorkshopAlignment Mapping
| Criterion |  Innovation Brainstorming |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | 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 group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. | 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 | Low | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-3 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 5-30 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |