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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 for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for ALPEN Method
Operations
ALPEN Method
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.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.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.With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighHighLow
Timedifferent
2-4 h2-6 hSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope10-20 min daily
Participantsdifferent
4-103-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders1
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Story Map, Release Slices, Backlog CandidatesFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation ActionsPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsDaily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes
Tagsno overlap
BacklogJourneyPlanningMVP
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations
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