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Criterion
Software Architecture Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Software Architecture Canvas
Paper illustration for Kepner-Tregoe
Operations
Kepner-Tregoe
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
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.For a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations.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.For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability.
Complexitydifferent
LowHighHighHigh
Timedifferent
1-2 h2-8 hSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
3-102-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality AttributesProblem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk PlanPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions
Tagsno overlap
CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop
Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
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