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Criterion
Visual Management workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Visual Management
Paper illustration for Dot Estimation.
Facilitation
Dot Estimation
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
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.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.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.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
LowLowHighMedium
Timedifferent
Ongoing5-20 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
1-203-20Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders2-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Visual Board, Status Indicators, Exception CuesEffort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion TargetsPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan
Tagsno overlap
SignalsOperationsVisual management
EstimationEffortRisk
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
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