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Selected:Wideband DelphiATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Dot EstimationFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Wideband Delphi | ![]() Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) | ![]() Facilitation Dot Estimation | ![]() Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | A single opinion rarely holds up for planning when the future is genuinely uncertain. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as an Estimate Range, Assumption Log, and Expert Consensus Notes. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h or multiple rounds | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 5-20 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Experten | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-20 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Estimate Range, Assumption Log, Expert Consensus Notes | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion Targets | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | EstimationExpertsForecasting | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | EstimationEffortRisk | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |



