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Selected:IBIS ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Argument Mapping Architecture Decision Record

Criterion	Knowledge Modeling IBIS	Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)	Decision Making Argument Mapping	Architecture Architecture Decision Record
Purposedifferent	IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus.	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 statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on.	An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable.
Complexitydifferent	Medium	High	Medium	Low
Timedifferent	1-3 h	Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope	1-3 h	15-45 min
Participantsdifferent	2-8	Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders	1-8	1-3
Formatdifferent	Workshop + async	Workshop + async	Workshop + async	Async
Outputdifferent	Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes	Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations	Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale	ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale
Tagsno overlap	RationaleKnowledgeDecision	ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders	SensemakingDecisionRationale	ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance

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