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Criterion
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for Kepner-Tregoe
Operations
Kepner-Tregoe
Purposedifferent
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.For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together.An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale.For a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumHigh
Timedifferent
15-45 min45-90 min1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung2-8 h
Participantsdifferent
1-32-53-20 Reviewer2-8
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
ADR File, Decision Log, RationaleA3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause AnalysisRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsProblem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations
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