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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
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
When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer.When statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on.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
LowMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
45–90 min1-3 h1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
3-101-83-20 Reviewer2-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasArgument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision RationaleRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsDACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
SensemakingDecisionRationale
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment
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