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Selected:Architecture Decision RecordConstraint AnalysisDecision Rights MappingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 30-90 min | 90-180 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 2-8 | 4-12 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |