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Selected:Empathy MappingSAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)User InterviewsATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Architecture SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method) |  UX Research User Interviews |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning. | When teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope | 30–60 min per interview | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting | 1 participant per interview | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternatives | Interview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality | QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |