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Selected:Competency QuestionsFault Tree AnalysisATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling Competency Questions | ![]() Operations Fault Tree Analysis | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Competency Questions translate a domain model into concrete questions that it must be able to answer. The method keeps the model's scope clean and prevents pretty but useless structures. | For a critical top event with several possible triggers, the method logically models failure paths. It makes visible which combinations of conditions can lead to damage. | 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. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High | High |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 2-6 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Competency Question Set, Required Concepts, Test Queries, Coverage Matrix | Fault Tree, Critical Paths, Cause Hypotheses, Control Actions | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | OntologyKnowledge graphScopeRequirementsSemantic | RiskRoot causeSafety | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |



