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Selected:Fault Tree AnalysisMind MappingFailure Mode and Effects AnalysisATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion | ![]() Operations Fault Tree Analysis | ![]() Facilitation Mind Mapping | ![]() Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a critical top event with several possible triggers, the method logically models failure paths. It makes visible which combinations of conditions can lead to damage. | When a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | 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. | 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 | High | Low | High | High |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 15-45 min | 2-6 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-10 | 3-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Fault Tree, Critical Paths, Cause Hypotheses, Control Actions | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | 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 | RiskRoot causeSafety | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |



