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Selected:Cost of DelayArchitecture Decision RecordATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Request for Comments
| Criterion | ![]() Delivery Cost of Delay | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Architecture Request for Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Helps clarify scope, order, and delivery flow in concrete terms. It makes work, constraints, and sequence manageable. The result is captured as a Cost of Delay table and prioritization sequence. | 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. | 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. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 90-180 min | 15-45 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-3 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-20 Reviewer |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | CoD Table, Prioritization Sequence | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets |
Tagsno overlap | PrioritizationDeliveryEconomicsDecision | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance |



