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Criterion
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration for Cynefin Workshop.
Decision Making
Cynefin Workshop
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
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 problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic.When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
15-45 min60-180 min45–90 min
Participantsdifferent
1-34-203-10
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
ADR File, Decision Log, RationaleCynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking NotesTheme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
ComplexitySensemakingDecision
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments