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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
Gap Analysis method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
GAP Analysis
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
Paper illustration for Constraint Analysis.
Decision Making
Constraint 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.GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing.When statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on.When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
15-45 min1-3 h1-3 h30-90 min
Participantsdifferent
1-32-81-82-8
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
ADR File, Decision Log, RationaleGap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk NotesArgument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision RationaleConstraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
StrategyAnalysisPlanning
SensemakingDecisionRationale
ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions
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