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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Facilitation Mind Mapping |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
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 topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 15-45 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 1-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |
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