Quality Attribute Workshops
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-2001-TR-010Topic or Tag
Abstract
Quality Attribute Workshops (QAW) provide a method for evaluating a software-intensive system architecture during the acquisition phase of major programs. The architecture is evaluated against a number of critical quality attributes, such as availability, performance, security, interoperability, and modifiability. The evaluation is based on scenarios that capture questions and concerns elicited from various stakeholders. In this paper, we provide a rationale for developing the process and describe it in detail. We follow this with a list of lessons learned and discuss how these lessons have helped us evolve the process to its current state.
Cite This SEI Report
Barbacci, M., Ellison, R., Stafford, J., Weinstock, C., & Wood, W. (2001, May 1). Quality Attribute Workshops. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2001-TR-010). Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/quality-attribute-workshops/.
@techreport{barbacci_2001,
author={Barbacci, Mario and Ellison, Robert and Stafford, Judith and Weinstock, Charles and Wood, William},
title={Quality Attribute Workshops},
month={May},
year={2001},
number={{CMU/SEI-2001-TR-010},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/quality-attribute-workshops/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-18}
}
Barbacci, Mario, Robert Ellison, Judith Stafford, Charles Weinstock, and William Wood. "Quality Attribute Workshops." (CMU/SEI-2001-TR-010). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, May 1, 2001. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/quality-attribute-workshops/.
M. Barbacci, R. Ellison, J. Stafford, C. Weinstock, and W. Wood, "Quality Attribute Workshops," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-2001-TR-010, 1-May-2001 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/quality-attribute-workshops/. [Accessed: 18-Aug-2026].
Barbacci, Mario, Robert Ellison, Judith Stafford, Charles Weinstock, and William Wood. "Quality Attribute Workshops." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2001-TR-010). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 May. 2001. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/quality-attribute-workshops/. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.
Barbacci, Mario; Ellison, Robert; Stafford, Judith; Weinstock, Charles; & Wood, William. Quality Attribute Workshops. CMU/SEI-2001-TR-010. Software Engineering Institute. 2001. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/quality-attribute-workshops/