View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
Selected:Fishbone DiagramFailure Mode and Effects Analysisarc42ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. | 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. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | 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 | 2-6 h | 1-2 Tage | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-10 | 1-4 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | 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 | Root causeQualityOperations | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |