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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 60-180 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 4-20 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |
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