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
Value Stream Mapping workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Delivery
Value Stream Mapping
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Dot Estimation.
Facilitation
Dot Estimation
Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan
Purposedifferent
When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible.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 size or effort can only be estimated roughly, Dot Estimation condenses the group's experience into a quick range. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as an Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, and Discussion Targets.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.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighLowLow
Timedifferent
1-3 hSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope5-20 min45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
4-10Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders3-202-6
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck listPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsEffort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion TargetsCommunication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence
Tagsno overlap
LeanFlowWasteDelivery
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
EstimationEffortRisk
CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning
Add more methods