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Criterion
Rich Picture workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Systems Thinking
Rich Picture
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for CATWOE Analysis.
Systems Thinking
CATWOE Analysis
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Purposedifferent
A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early.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.CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way.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
LowHighMediumMedium
Timedifferent
30-90 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope45-90 min60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
2-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-82-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Rich Picture, Problem Framing NotesPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsCATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, ConstraintsCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
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