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Selected:Decision MatrixSoftware Architecture CanvasATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Architecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Decision Making Decision Matrix |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-2 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |