Mini ATAM Procedure

From DaVinci

Step 4

• Identify the architecture approaches (patterns/styles and tactics) you have selected and why.
• How do they address the business/mission goals of the system?

Step 5

• Create the utility tree. The bulk of the scenarios should have been captured, but often as you

architect you will refine or develop additional quality attribute scenarios. At the very least you should review and refine your scenarios and put them into the utility tree format. The utility tree includes three levels: quality attributes, quality concerns, and quality attribute scenarios.

• Once the utility tree is developed, the scenarios should be prioritized according to importance and

difficulty.

Step 6

• Use your high priority scenarios (high importance and high difficulty) to guide the evaluation of

the architecture. For each of these scenarios, use the following scenario analysis template to guide the analysis.

• • For each scenario you analyze, cut and paste the original scenario from the utility tree into

the table below in the Scenario row.

• • List the business/mission goal(s) that this scenario applies to, or otherwise effects in the row

named Business Goal(s) in the table below.

• • Cut and paste the Attribute and Attribute Concern from the utility tree into the table below in

the Attribute and Attribute Concern rows respectively.

• • Refine the scenario by providing the following 6 parts to the scenario:
    • Stimulus – condition that affecting the system.
    • Response – activity as a result of the stimulus.
    • Source of stimulus – The entity that generated the stimulus.
    • Environment – the condition under which the stimulus occurred.
    • Artifact stimulated – the artifact that was stimulated.
    • Response measure – the measure by which the system’s response will be evaluated.
    • During analysis, capture the architectural decisions and the rationale guiding these

choices. Record this information in the table in the column labeled Architectural Decisions and Reasoning.

To begin the analysis, ask the following question:
“Given the stimulus from the stated source, under the environmental conditions indicated, stimulating the artifact listed in the scenario, show how the system responds within the response measure indicated in the scenario.”

The architect should use the architectural artifacts to trace the stimulus and analyze how the architecture responds. Capture the architectural decisions and reasoning that is reveled during this analysis in the table below. During this time, you may discover risks, sensitivity points, and tradeoffs.