ATAM Leader Training

Leading a software architecture evaluation using the SEI Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) requires technical expertise in both software architecture and quality attributes, a working knowledge of the ATAM, and superior facilitation skills. The social dimension of leading the ATAM is often overlooked, but there are considerable facilitation challenges for the ATAM lead evaluator:

• How do you manage multiple people with diverse viewpoints?
• How do you conduct the ATAM effectively while staying within its time limits?
• How can you be tactful but assertive?
• How do you know when to engage and when to observe?
• How do you properly manage the roles of ATAM participants, ensuring that everyone is doing the right job?
• How do you ensure that the right information is being captured during the course of the evaluation?

This two-day course focuses on the social and leadership skills needed to successfully lead an architecture evaluation using the ATAM. The course presents ATAM facilitation requirements and challenges in the context of general facilitation and consulting principles. Through exercises, participants practice being an ATAM lead evaluator.

Who should attend?

• ATAM evaluators who want to improve their ATAM facilitation skills
• ATAM evaluators who want to become SEI-Certified ATAM Leaders

Topics

• ATAM leader roles and responsibilities
• basic facilitation techniques
• managing group dynamics
• applying the techniques during ATAM evaluations

Objectives

After attending this course participants will have a better understanding of

• effective meeting management techniques
• effective facilitation techniques
• how to apply proven meeting management and facilitation techniques during an ATAM evaluation
• how to manage the roles of ATAM participants
• how to listen for architectural risks and capture them faithfully

Prerequisites

Participants must have successfully completed the

• Software Architecture: Principles and Practices course, which is available as instructor-led classroom training and as eLearning
• ATAM Evaluator Training course

We also strongly recommend that all attendees participate in at least one ATAM evaluation prior to taking this course.

Materials

Participants will receive a copy of lecture slides and exercises.

Schedule

This 2-day course meets at the following times:
Days 1-2, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (U.S. locations)
Days 1-2, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (non-U.S. locations)