View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
Selected:Architecture Decision RecordCompetency QuestionsFailure Mode and Effects AnalysisFishbone Diagram
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Knowledge Modeling Competency Questions | ![]() Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis | ![]() Operations Fishbone Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Competency Questions translate a domain model into concrete questions that it must be able to answer. The method keeps the model's scope clean and prevents pretty but useless structures. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 2-4 h | 2-6 h | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 2-8 | 3-10 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Competency Question Set, Required Concepts, Test Queries, Coverage Matrix | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | OntologyKnowledge graphScopeRequirementsSemantic | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | Root causeQualityOperations |



