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Criterion
Paper illustration of a journey map with four connected phases, several experience lanes and a point marked for closer investigation.
UX Research
Customer Journey Mapping
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Purposedifferent
When a user journey falls apart across many touchpoints, customer journey mapping makes the experience visible as a coherent arc. Phases, emotions, and breaks become legible enough to prioritize critical moments deliberately.When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities 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.The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowHighMedium
Timedifferent
2-4 h45–90 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
4-103-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Journey Map, Pain-point List, Opportunity BacklogTheme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan
Tagsno overlap
JourneyServiceService design
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
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