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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Engineering Golden Path |  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 teams need a reliable default path for frequent use, sprawl quickly emerges without any guiding logic. Golden Path bundles the preferred path so good practice becomes easy and deviation becomes deliberate. | 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 | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 1-3 Tage Setup, laufend | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Golden Path Guide, Templates, Quality Checks | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | EngineeringProductivityGovernance | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |
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