The Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) is a method for evaluating software architectures relative to quality attribute goals. Method evaluations expose architectural risks that potentially inhibit the achievement of an organization’s business goals.
Architecture_Evaluation_Form_Template_V0.ods open sheet document is a tool developed based on ATAM.
This document can be used within the process defined by ATAM. ATAM process participants can complete this document while completing ATAM process mentioned in ATAM.
Step 5. Generate quality attribute utility tree. The open sheet has the most quality attributes that are commonly found in modern software applications. These can be found under User Perspective and Developer Perspectivesheets. ATAM participants should update not applicable Quality Attributes for architecture in User Perspective and Developer Perspective sheets under Priority column to NA and Evaluation column to Non-Risk.
Step 6. Analyze architectural approaches. During this step, Non-Risks, Risks, Sensitivity, and Tradeoff detail points are identified and updated under the Evaluation (column). The sheet provides some samples of possible areas to evaluate under each quality attribute.
Step 7. Brainstorm and prioritise scenarios. During this step, a priority is assigned to each detail point. Use column Priority and select a value between HIGH to LOW.
Step 8. Analyze architectural approaches. This step reiterates the activities of Step 6. The participants should modify the open sheet accordingly. See more details on ATAM.
Step 9. Present results. The final product architecture qualifier will be presented on Summary sheet. This is calculated based on Risks, Sensitivity Points, and Tradeoffs to be fixed.
See Lists sheet for descriptions and rank values for summary calculations.
A possible improvement is to introduce a weight on Quality Attributes importance.