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Selected:Architecture Decision RecordQuality Attribute WorkshopSoftware Architecture CanvasConsensus Workshop
| Criterion | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture Quality Attribute Workshop | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Facilitation Consensus Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | A Quality Attribute Workshop translates quality requirements into concrete scenarios and architecture impulses. The method brings product, engineering, and operations to the same view of desired properties. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | When a group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 2-4 h | 1-2 h | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 5-15 | 3-10 | 5-30 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Quality Scenarios, Priority List, Architecture Concerns | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RequirementsArchitectureWorkshop | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment |



