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| Criterion |  Innovation How Might We |  Innovation Reverse Brainstorming |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Innovation Lotus Blossom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With a stuck problem carrying many implicit assumptions, the method translates observations into open, workable questions. It sharpens the problem frame without pre-thinking the solution, turning frustration or fuzziness into a search space with clear direction. | For persistent errors or blockages, the method shifts the view to the opposite of the desired effect. It exposes the mechanics of failure and makes hidden causes easier to grasp. This makes improvement more concrete and the problem clearer. | 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. | When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–45 min | 30-60 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 3-12 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea Prompts | Reverse Ideas, Risk Themes, Solution Ideas | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityRisk | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop |