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Selected:Cynefin WorkshopATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Stakeholder MappingAlignment Mapping
| Criterion |  Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic. | 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 an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. | 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 | Medium | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 60-180 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 60–90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 4-20 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |