View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Product Strategy Counter Metrics |  Growth A/B Testing |  Product Discovery Smoke Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a headline metric could mask side effects, it adds guardrail signals against unwanted outcomes. It connects customer value, product logic, and decision priorities. The result is captured as a counter-metric list and guardrail definitions. | When two variants compete, discussions quickly decide by taste rather than effect. A/B Testing checks behavior under controlled conditions and separates real improvement from chance or expectation effects. | When demand only needs to be roughly verified, it tests interest with minimal effort. It measures whether people would take a next step at all. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 30-60 min | 1-4 Wochen | 1-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 2-6 | 1-6 | Nutzertraffic |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Counter Metric List, Guardrail Definitions | Experiment results, Decision log, Learning summary | Interest Metrics, Conversion Signal, Learning Note |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | MetricsMeasurementStrategyExperiments | ExperimentsGrowthAnalyticsValidation | ValidationExperimentsDemandGrowth |