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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration of two user profile cards with a goal, behavior evidence, and an open research question.
UX Research
Personas
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
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 target groups stay too vague and teams talk about the same people differently, personas create a shared, solid picture of usage. Condensed profiles make needs, contexts, and differences tangible enough for decisions.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
45–90 min1-3 Tage15-45 min
Participantsdifferent
3-10Internes Team1-3
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasPersona Profiles, Needs Summary, Scenario NotesADR File, Decision Log, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
ResearchCustomerSynthesis
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of two people facing each other, speech bubbles and an open interview notebook.
UX Research
User Interviews
Empathy Mapping
UX Research
Empathy Mapping
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments