View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Architecture ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs) |  Decision Making DACI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification. | In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 1-3 h | 2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 2-8 | Designers, developers as users, and facilitation | 2-10 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Prioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisions | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment |