methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Scenario Planning method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
Scenario Planning
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Gap Analysis method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
GAP Analysis
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Purposedifferent
Scenario Planning opens the view to several plausible futures instead of a single forecast. The method protects strategies from depending on too narrow an expected path.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.GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing.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
HighHighMediumMedium
Timedifferent
0.5-2 TageSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-3 h1-2 h
Participantsdifferent
4-12Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-84-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Scenario Set, Strategic Implications, Robust OptionsPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsGap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk NotesAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions
Tagsno overlap
StrategyUncertaintyPlanning
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
StrategyAnalysisPlanning
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
Add more methods