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Criterion
Paper Kanban board with To Discuss, Discussing and Discussed columns, topic cards, votes and timer.
Facilitation
Lean Coffee
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
Stakeholder Mapping
Facilitation
Stakeholder Mapping
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Purposedifferent
When a group without a fixed agenda needs to get into useful conversations quickly, Lean Coffee structures the start around interests rather than a presentation. The group itself negotiates which topics get time first and which wait.SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning.When an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowHighLowHigh
Timedifferent
30-90 minPreparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope60–90 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope
Participantsdifferent
3-20Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting2-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Prioritized Topics, Discussion Notes, Action ItemsDomain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternativesStakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk NotesPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations
Tagsno overlap
FacilitationAutonomyDialogue
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
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