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Selected:Architecture Decision RecordFailure Mode and Effects AnalysisIncident CommandRoot Cause Analysis
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |  DevOps Incident Command |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. | During an acute incident with several people involved, the method creates a clear leadership and communication structure. It reduces chaos when fast coordination and clean situational awareness are both needed at once. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 2-6 h | As needed | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 3-10 | 4-15 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | Incident Log, Action Tracker, Stakeholder Updates | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | IncidentOperationsReliability | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |