CPSA Architecture Evaluation Methods 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which evaluation method is specifically designed to assess architecture by mapping design decisions to quality attribute responses using scenario-based analysis?
- Zachman Framework
- ATAM (Correct answer)
- Capability Maturity Model
- 4+1 View Model
Correct answer: ATAM
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) uses scenario-based analysis to map architectural decisions to quality attribute responses.
Question 2: In an ATAM evaluation, what is the role of the 'evaluation team leader'?
- Writing all architecture documentation
- Facilitating the evaluation process and keeping it on track (Correct answer)
- Approving all architectural decisions made during the evaluation
- Coding prototype implementations of proposed solutions
Correct answer: Facilitating the evaluation process and keeping it on track
The evaluation team leader facilitates the ATAM process, manages stakeholder interactions, and ensures the evaluation stays focused.
Question 3: What is the key difference between ATAM and CBAM?
- ATAM evaluates security while CBAM focuses on performance
- ATAM identifies tradeoffs qualitatively while CBAM adds cost-benefit quantification (Correct answer)
- ATAM is used after deployment while CBAM is used during design
- ATAM requires external evaluators while CBAM uses only internal staff
Correct answer: ATAM identifies tradeoffs qualitatively while CBAM adds cost-benefit quantification
ATAM identifies architectural tradeoffs qualitatively, while CBAM extends this by quantifying the economic costs and benefits of architectural decisions.
Question 4: Which of the following is a valid output artifact from an ATAM evaluation?
- Compiled source code
- Prioritized risk themes (Correct answer)
- Network topology diagrams
- Database schema
Correct answer: Prioritized risk themes
ATAM produces prioritized risk themes, which group related risks to help the project team focus on the most critical architectural concerns.
Question 5: When performing architecture evaluation, 'architectural drivers' refer to which of the following?
- Software modules responsible for handling hardware I/O
- The most important quality attribute scenarios and business goals that shape the architecture (Correct answer)
- Developers who make key design decisions
- Documentation tools used during evaluation
Correct answer: The most important quality attribute scenarios and business goals that shape the architecture
Architectural drivers are the quality attributes and business goals of highest priority that most significantly influence the architecture.
Question 6: In ATAM Phase 2, what new group participates that was absent in Phase 1?
- The development team
- A broader set of stakeholders beyond the core team (Correct answer)
- External security auditors
- Government compliance officers
Correct answer: A broader set of stakeholders beyond the core team
Phase 2 expands participation to a wider stakeholder group who review Phase 1 findings and contribute additional scenarios.
Question 7: Which quality attribute is most directly evaluated by examining an architecture's use of redundancy, failover, and heartbeat mechanisms?
- Modifiability
- Availability (Correct answer)
- Testability
- Interoperability
Correct answer: Availability
Availability tactics like redundancy, failover, and heartbeats are direct architectural mechanisms for keeping a system operational despite faults.
CPSA Architecture Evaluation Methods 3
Which evaluation method is specifically designed to assess architecture by mapping design decisions to quality attribute responses using scenario-based analysis?