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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking Evaporating Cloud | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. | 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. | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High |
Timedifferent | 60-120 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange |
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