Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) is a way of looking at a system or product and making sure it is designed in the best way possible. It involves looking at all the different parts of a system or product and deciding which is the best combination of features and components that serves the most people, is the most reliable and is the most cost-effective. It's like playing a game of 'pick the best option': you have to balance which features you keep and which you discard and what components you use. Then ATAM helps you decide the best combination or 'tradeoff' of features and components that fits your needs and budget.