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Criterion
Paper illustration of Scrum with its method-specific working model.
Agile
Scrum
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Purposedifferent
When a team needs to work in a fixed delivery rhythm, it stabilizes cadence, responsibility, and feedback loops. It makes collaboration reliable across sprint boundaries.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.An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale.An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-4 Wochen je Sprint, laufendSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung15-45 min
Participantsdifferent
3-10 (Scrum Team)Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-20 Reviewer1-3
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment, Sprint GoalPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsADR File, Decision Log, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
AgileIterationCadence
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
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