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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  UX Research User Interviews |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
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 teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 30–60 min per interview | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-3 | 1 participant per interview | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Interview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |
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