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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 Evaporating Cloud.
Systems Thinking
Evaporating Cloud
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
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.The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict.An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale.Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
15-45 min60-120 min1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
1-32-83-20 Reviewer2-8
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshopAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
ADR File, Decision Log, RationaleConflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next ExperimentsRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
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