methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Stock and Flow Diagram method illustration showing its working structure
Systems Thinking
Stock and Flow Diagram
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of System Dynamics Simulation with its method-specific working model.
Systems Thinking
System Dynamics Simulation
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Purposedifferent
A Stock and Flow Diagram shows how stocks, inflows, and outflows shape a system over time. It is especially suited when growth, delays, or capacity limits determine the dynamics.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.System Dynamics Simulation makes assumptions about time, delay, and feedback testable through experiments. It draws relationships, patterns, and feedback loops. The result is captured as a simulation model and scenario reports.The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design.
Complexitydifferent
HighHighHighMedium
Timedifferent
2-6 hSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scopeMehrere Tage bis Wochen60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
1-6Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders1-5 Modellierende, Stakeholder asynchron2-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Stock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation HypothesesPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsSimulation Model, Scenario ReportsCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan
Tagsno overlap
DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
Systems thinkingDynamicsSimulationAnalysis
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
Add more methods