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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Argument Mapping |  Decision Making DACI |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on. | In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated. | In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 1-3 h | 30-60 min | 90-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 1-8 | 2-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | SensemakingDecisionRationale | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility |