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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  DevOps Incident Timeline Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | For an incident with an unclear sequence, the method makes the timeline precisely visible. It separates perception, reaction, and delay so cause and effect become more clearly readable. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 2-6 h | 60-180 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 3-10 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Incident Timeline, Evidence Log, Delay Analysis, Improvement Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | IncidentTimelineSite Reliability Engineering | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |