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Criterion
Process Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Operations
Process Mapping
Paper illustration of a review with planned work, actual event sequence, comparison, and assigned improvement actions.
Operations
After-Action Review
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper fishbone diagram with a measurable effect at the head and six labeled cause branches.
Operations
Fishbone Diagram
Purposedifferent
With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots.After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement.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 a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowHighLow
Timedifferent
1-3 h20-45 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
3-103-12Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement BacklogLessons learned, Action items, Event summaryPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsFishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog
Tagsno overlap
ProcessOperationsImprovement
LearningOperationsImprovement
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
Root causeQualityOperations
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