View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Agile 4Ls Retrospective |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations After-Action Review |  Operations Learning Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a sprint should not only be assessed but also learned from, it captures experience in clear learning categories. It records what worked, what's missing, and what should run differently next time. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. | After a project phase with mixed results, the method makes learning from the individual case reusable. It connects events, decisions, and systemic conditions into robust insights. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45–75 min | 15-45 min | 20-45 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | Team members involved | 1-3 | 3-12 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | 4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement Actions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Learning Review Notes, System Factors, Improvement Actions |
Tagsno overlap | RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | LearningOperationsImprovement | LearningRetrospectiveIncidentOperations |