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Selected:Decision TreeATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Kepner-TregoeFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  Decision Making Decision Tree |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For decisions with follow-on paths and dependencies, a linear comparison is often not enough. A Decision Tree shows how options branch under conditions and which consequences hang on each branch. | 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 disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. | 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 | 30-90 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 2-8 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Decision Tree, Option Map, Assumption List | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | DecisionTreeOptions | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |