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Criterion
Paper illustration for ABC Analysis
Operations
ABC Analysis
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
Purposedifferent
With many similar objects of differing economic significance, the method prioritizes effort by effect. It separates what needs regular steering from what rarely needs attention.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.With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowMedium
Timedifferent
30-60 min15-45 min45-120 min
Participantsdifferent
1-51-32-8
Formatdifferent
AsyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
ABC Classification, Focus Rules, Control ListADR File, Decision Log, RationaleTrade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides
Tagsno overlap
PrioritizationOperationsPortfolio
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping