Quality attribute requirements drive the design of architecture and the resulting views of the architecture. A Software Architectural Synthesis Factor Table results from several iterations of putting together different abstraction levels and then views of an architecture. I had an old factor table that came from an old project that in the end the client decided would be to costly to move forward with. I thought I would post it to give an example of what a factor table ends up looking like.
You can view it here.
Software Architectural Synthesis Factor Table
jon2givbahelp
In his blog, Arnon talks about making architectural decisions early and ties Quality Attributes into the discussion.
Using a table like I’ve displayed in the blog linked to above, would be one of the results of the decision making process.
Mike OTW
The first book I mentioned aligns its language and concepts with the IEEE Standard 1471.
If you fill out this form, you get a good overview of what the book covers in detail in a quick reference document.
rSmoke
Hi Tad,
The samle table you've posted looks very good - I use a similar appraoch based on ATAM Utility trees (see my post Utility Trees - Hatching quality attributes).
Arnon
superhugo
I usually just use Excel to document the utility tree.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
As for references for building the SAD - I based my template on IEEE 1471 and Documenting software architectures (you mention above) - I use (a slightly more updated version of ) the template as an initial set of views and add/remove views according to the needs I identify (i.e what is important to the stakeholders)
I am not familiar with the first book you've mentioned. I did however find the SEI books very good
Arnon
Hunter420
Scott258
Very nice. What do you use to build your trees
On my current project I am putting them in EA and then using a custom requirements template to generate a document. Then I am porting them into the Software Architecture Description.
I am using a mix of
http://www.viewpoints-and-perspectives.info/
http://www.sei.cmu.edu/publications/books/engineering/documenting-sw-arch.html
http://www.sei.cmu.edu/publications/books/engineering/sw-arch-practice-second-edition.html
http://www.sei.cmu.edu/publications/books/engineering/spl-practices-patterns.html
as my references to build the SAD.