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Criterion
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
A paper tomato timer connects a focus task, short breaks and a work record.
Operations
Pomodoro Technique
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Eat the Frog
Operations
Eat the Frog
Purposedifferent
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.For easily distracted solo work, the method sets clear time boundaries for concentrated work. It protects attention when large tasks would otherwise fall apart into small avoidance moves.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.The method protects energy and attention for the task that creates the largest progress and is often postponed.
Complexitydifferent
HighLowHighLow
Timedifferent
Preparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope25 min ZyklenSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope15-90 min daily
Participantsdifferent
Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting1Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders1
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Domain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternativesFocus Sessions, Task Progress, Interruption NotesPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsPriority Task, Completion Note, Daily Focus
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
FocusTime managementProductivityExecution
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
PrioritizationProductivityFocusExecution
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