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Criterion
Software Architecture Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Software Architecture Canvas
Paper illustration for Accountability Ladder
Operations
Accountability Ladder
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Expectation Mapping.
Facilitation
Expectation Mapping
Purposedifferent
The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly.With defensive reactions to problems, the method shifts the view from justification to ownership. It makes visible which reaction stage a person or team is currently stuck on.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 roles, interfaces, or projects fail because of differing expectations, Expectation Mapping surfaces these differences. It shows what each side takes for granted and where the pictures diverge.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowHighLow
Timedifferent
1-2 h20-45 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
3-101-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality AttributesOwnership Reflection, Action Commitment, Coaching NotesPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsExpectation Map, Alignment Notes, Agreements
Tagsno overlap
CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop
ResponsibilityLeadershipTeam
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
AlignmentStakeholdersTeam
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