Architecture Evaluation Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real CPSA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Architecture Evaluation Methods flashcards as text
What does the 'utility' root node represent at the top of an ATAM utility tree?
Answer: The overall desirability or value of the system as perceived by its stakeholders
The utility root node in the ATAM utility tree represents the overall system value from the stakeholder perspective, which is refined into specific quality attributes.
Which scenario component describes what triggers the quality attribute response in a quality attribute scenario?
Answer: Stimulus
The stimulus is the condition or event that triggers the system's quality attribute response, such as a user request or hardware failure.
An architecture evaluation finds that using a shared database between two services improves performance but reduces modifiability. This is an example of a:
Answer: Tradeoff point
A tradeoff point is an architectural decision that affects multiple quality attributes in opposing ways, here improving performance while reducing modifiability.
Which of the following best defines 'architecture erosion' as a concern in evaluation?
Answer: The divergence between intended architecture and actual implemented architecture
Architecture erosion occurs when the implemented system drifts from the intended architecture due to expedient decisions, patch fixes, or poor change control.
In the CPSA context, what is the purpose of 'architecture documentation evaluation'?
Answer: To verify that documentation accurately reflects the as-built architecture and supports communication
Architecture documentation evaluation checks whether the documentation faithfully represents the actual system and effectively communicates architectural decisions to stakeholders.
Which metric is most useful for evaluating an architecture's testability?
Answer: Degree to which components can be isolated and tested independently
Testability is best measured by the degree to which components can be isolated—through interfaces, dependency injection, or seams—for independent verification.
When using scenario-based evaluation, what makes a scenario 'concrete' rather than 'abstract'?
Answer: Concrete scenarios specify exact stimulus values, environment conditions, and measurable response measures
Concrete scenarios include specific, measurable details about the stimulus, environment, and expected response, making them directly testable against the architecture.