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Criterion
Visual Management workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Visual Management
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper fishbone diagram with a measurable effect at the head and six labeled cause branches.
Operations
Fishbone Diagram
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Purposedifferent
With high tempo and many parallel topics, the method makes status, deviations, and priorities visible at a glance. It reduces search effort and prevents what matters from getting lost in daily work.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 problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers.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
LowLowLowHigh
Timedifferent
Ongoing15-45 min30-60 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope
Participantsdifferent
1-201-32-8Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Visual Board, Status Indicators, Exception CuesADR File, Decision Log, RationaleFishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation BacklogPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations
Tagsno overlap
SignalsOperationsVisual management
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
Root causeQualityOperations
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
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