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Criterion
Software Architecture Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Software Architecture Canvas
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Paper illustration of Business Model Stress Test with its method-specific working model.
Business Strategy
Business Model Stress Test
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
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.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.A Business Model Stress Test checks how well a business model holds up under pressure and headwinds. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a stress-test report and action plan per scenario.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumHighHigh
Timedifferent
1-2 h1-2 hHalf daySeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope
Participantsdifferent
3-104-123-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality AttributesAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision QuestionsStress Test Report, Action Plan per ScenarioPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations
Tagsno overlap
CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
StrategyBusiness modelRiskDiagnosis
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
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