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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations Runbook |  DevOps Blameless Postmortem |  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. | For recurring operational tasks or incidents, the method keeps solid action logic ready. It reduces uncertainty when time pressure, role changes, or rare situations demand fast access. | After an incident with damage or a near miss, the method creates a sober field for learning without assigning blame. It directs attention to the course of events, conditions, and effective countermeasures. | 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 | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 20-60 min | 30-90 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 1-4 | 3-12 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Runbook, Checklist, Escalation Path | Postmortem Doc, Action Items, Timeline | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | OperationsReliabilityDocumentation | Site Reliability EngineeringIncidentLearningReliability | LearningOperationsImprovement |