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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  UX Research Customer Journey Mapping |  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 a user journey falls apart across many touchpoints, customer journey mapping makes the experience visible as a coherent arc. Phases, emotions, and breaks become legible enough to prioritize critical moments deliberately. | 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 | 2-4 h | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 4-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Journey Map, Pain-point List, Opportunity Backlog | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | JourneyServiceService design | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |
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