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Selected:Strategic, Tactical and Operational PlanningATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Architecture Decision RecordStrategy Execution Loop
| Criterion | ![]() Business Strategy Strategic, Tactical and Operational Planning | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Business Strategy Strategy Execution Loop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | It places decisions and artifacts at the right level. Strategic planning clarifies direction, tactical planning translates it into programs, and operational planning steers concrete processes. | 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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | The Strategy Execution Loop helps avoid treating strategy as a one-off document. It makes visible how strategic decisions are turned into objectives, initiatives, operational work, measurement, and learning. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 90-180 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 15-45 min | Initial 3-6 h, then monthly or quarterly reviews |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 1-3 | 5-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Planning Levels Map, Cadence Model, Planning Artifact Inventory | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Execution Loop, Review Cadence, Strategic Learning Log |
Tagsno overlap | CadenceGovernanceExecution | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ExecutionCadenceLearningGovernance |



