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Criterion
Paper illustration of a branching impact map with a Why goal at the root, actor circles, How behavior changes and What options.
Product Strategy
Impact Mapping
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of Business Model Stress Test with its method-specific working model.
Business Strategy
Business Model Stress Test
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Purposedifferent
When a goal needs to be connected to several possible paths, it shows chains of impact instead of feature lists. It connects business goal, behavior change, and measures.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.A Business Model Stress Test checks how well a business model holds up under pressure and headwinds. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a stress-test report and action plan per scenario.When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighHighMedium
Timedifferent
45-90 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scopeHalf day1-2 h
Participantsdifferent
3-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-84-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Impact Map, Outcome Hypotheses, Delivery OptionsPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsStress Test Report, Action Plan per ScenarioAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions
Tagsno overlap
OutcomesStrategyBehaviorPlanning
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
StrategyBusiness modelRiskDiagnosis
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
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