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 |  Facilitation Nominal Group Technique |  Architecture arc42 |  Facilitation Dot Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 loud voices could dominate a round, Nominal Group Technique protects individual thinking time from group effects. It collects ideas separately first and only then enables shared weighting. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | When a workshop has produced too many options and the group needs to condense quickly, dot voting makes preferences visible in a short time. It bundles individual votes into a solid signal for the next selection. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 60-120 min | 1-2 Tage | 5-15 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 5-12 | 1-4 | 3-20 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Ranked Ideas, Clarified Options, Group Priority | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Ranked list, Consensus signal, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | FacilitationPrioritizationVotingInclusion | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | FacilitationVotingConsensusPrioritization |