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Criterion
Software Architecture Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Software Architecture Canvas
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of KPI Tree with its method-specific working model.
Product Strategy
KPI Tree
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment 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.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 metrics across the organization drift apart, it arranges drivers and effects under one shared logic. It connects customer value, product logic, and decision priorities. The result is captured as a KPI tree and owner list.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
LowHighMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 hSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope90-180 min initial, dann laufend1-2 h
Participantsdifferent
3-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-84-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality AttributesPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsKPI Tree, Owner ListAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions
Tagsno overlap
CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
MetricsStrategyAlignmentMeasurement
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
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