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Criterion
Design Thinking as a learning loop: an observation notebook, a focused problem statement, different idea sketches, a cardboard prototype and user-test notes. Feedback leads to new understanding.
Innovation
Design Thinking
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Views and Beyond method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Views and Beyond
Purposedifferent
For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service.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.Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question.
Complexitydifferent
HighHighLowMedium
Timedifferent
1 Tag bis mehrere WochenSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope15-45 min1-3 Tage
Participantsdifferent
4-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders1-31-4
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Problem Statement, Prototype, Test LearningsPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsADR File, Decision Log, RationaleArchitecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
InnovationPrototypeResearch
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture
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