Architecture Tradeoff Analysis MethodSM (ATAM)

Abstract


If a software architecture is a key business asset for an organization, then architectural analysis must also be a key practice for that organization. Why? Because architectures are complex and involve many design tradeoffs. Without undertaking a formal analysis process, the organization cannot ensure that the architectural decisions made—particularly those which affect the
achievement of quality attribute such as performance, vailability, security, and modifiability— are advisable ones that appropriately mitigate risks. In this article, we will discuss some of the technical and organizational foundations for performing architectural analysis, and will present the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis MethodSM (ATAM)—a technique for analyzing
software architectures