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| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling IBIS | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Facilitation Power Interest Grid | ![]() Decision Making Pre-Mortem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 many stakeholders compete for attention at once, the Power Interest Grid sorts them by influence and stake. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as a Power Interest Grid and a stakeholder-specific strategy. | In early initiatives with many uncertainties, planning quickly turns too optimistic. A pre-mortem makes the expected failure visible in advance and sharpens the view of causes, gaps, and countermeasures. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 30-60 min | 20–45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 2-8 | Small cross-functional group |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
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 | Power Interest Grid, Strategy per Stakeholder | Risk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption log |
Tagsno overlap | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | StakeholdersFacilitationAlignmentPlanning | RiskDecisionFailurePlanning |



