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Selected:Design SprintATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Architecture Decision RecordRisk Storming
| Criterion | ![]() Innovation Design Sprint | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture Risk Storming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. | 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 ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | Helps clarify architecture context, options, and consequences in concrete terms. It organizes technical context, alternatives, and consequences. The result is captured as an Annotated Diagram, a Prioritized Risk List, and an Action Backlog. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 4-5 Tage | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 15-45 min | 60-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 1-3 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Annotated Diagram, Prioritized Risk List, Action Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RiskArchitectureWorkshopValidation |



