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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration for RAPID
Decision Making
RAPID
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
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.In complex management decisions, clarity is often missing about who recommends, who agrees, and who makes the decision. RAPID creates this assignment and stabilizes decisions across several levels.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 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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
45–90 min45-90 min15-45 min1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
3-103-121-31-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasRAPID Role Map, Recommendation, Decision LogADR File, Decision Log, RationaleArgument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
DecisionRolesGovernance
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
SensemakingDecisionRationale
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