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Selected:Views and BeyondArchitecture Decision RecordEmpathy MappingATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. | 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. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Tage | 15-45 min | 30–60 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 1-3 | 4-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |