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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations Process Mapping |  Agile Sprint Retrospective |  Operations After-Action Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. | When a sprint is over and friction shouldn't simply be carried forward, it opens the view onto collaboration and patterns. It creates space to see causes and changes together. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 1-3 h | Up to 3 hours for a one-month Sprint; shorter Sprints are usually shorter | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 3-10 | Scrum Team | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Improvement actions, Team agreements | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ProcessOperationsImprovement | RetrospectiveImprovementLearning | LearningOperationsImprovement |