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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture Request for Comments | ![]() Decision Making Delphi Method | ![]() Decision Making Decision Rights 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. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. | When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together. | In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 1-4 Wochen | 90-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 3-20 Reviewer | 6-30 Experten | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Expert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption Notes | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility |



