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| Criterion |  Operations After-Action Review |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Argument Mapping |  Decision Making DACI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. | 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. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 15-45 min | 1-3 h | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 1-3 | 1-8 | 2-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log |
Tagsno overlap | LearningOperationsImprovement | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | SensemakingDecisionRationale | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment |