methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration of two people facing each other, speech bubbles and an open interview notebook.
UX Research
User Interviews
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for DACI
Decision Making
DACI
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.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.In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowMediumLow
Timedifferent
15-45 min30–60 min per interview1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
1-31 participant per interview3-20 Reviewer2-10
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
ADR File, Decision Log, RationaleInterview Notes, Themes, Insight SummaryRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsDACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment
Add more methods