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Criterion
Paper illustration for Option Framing.
Decision Making
Option Framing
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for 3-Circle Venn Diagram
Facilitation
3-Circle Venn Diagram
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Purposedifferent
In early decisions, alternatives are often still vague, incomplete, or blended together. Option Framing brings every possibility into a comparable form and makes visible which variant actually fits the question.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 three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies.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
MediumHighLowMedium
Timedifferent
45-120 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope15-45 min1-2 h
Participantsdifferent
3-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-84-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Option Frames, Assumption Notes, Comparable Shortlist, Decision InputsPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsVenn Diagram, Overlap Notes, DifferentiatorsAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions
Tagsno overlap
OptionsDecision framingStrategyComparison
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
ComparisonFacilitationAlignment
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
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