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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
Paper mind map with a central course onboarding question, colored main branches, keywords and cross-links.
Facilitation
Mind Mapping
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
Paper illustration of several people silently writing ideas and passing sheets around with arrows.
Innovation
Brainwriting
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 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 loud voices or hierarchy distort the idea search, the method creates a quiet entry into joint development. It gives everyone thinking space and gathers contributions without social brakes, making diversity more visible and easier to build on.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowMediumLow
Timedifferent
15-45 min15-45 min1-3 h15-30 min
Participantsdifferent
1-31-101-83-12
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
ADR File, Decision Log, RationaleMind Map, Topic Clusters, Open QuestionsArgument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision RationaleIdea sheets, Expanded concepts, Prioritized list
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation
SensemakingDecisionRationale
BrainstormingCollaborationInclusionIdeas
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