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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Anonymous individual judgments pass through feedback loops to form a distribution.
Decision Making
Delphi Method
Paper illustration of Business Model Stress Test with its method-specific working model.
Business Strategy
Business Model Stress Test
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Purposedifferent
Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely.When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together.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.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
MediumHighHighHigh
Timedifferent
1-2 h1-4 WochenHalf daySeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope
Participantsdifferent
3-126-30 Experten3-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders
Formatdifferent
WorkshopAsyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsExpert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption NotesStress Test Report, Action Plan per ScenarioPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy
StrategyBusiness modelRiskDiagnosis
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
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