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Criterion
Paper illustration of a horizontal story map with an activity backbone, task cards below it and a cross-map release line.
Product Discovery
User Story Mapping
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Purposedifferent
When user goals and delivery scope could drift apart, it orders the journey from goal to slice. It makes visible where an MVP can genuinely be cut.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 many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost.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
MediumHighLowMedium
Timedifferent
2-4 hSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope45-90 min60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
4-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-62-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Story Map, Release Slices, Backlog CandidatesPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsCommunication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message CadenceCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan
Tagsno overlap
BacklogJourneyPlanningMVP
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
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