View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture arc42 |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |  Product Strategy Counter Metrics |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement. | When a headline metric could mask side effects, it adds guardrail signals against unwanted outcomes. It connects customer value, product logic, and decision priorities. The result is captured as a counter-metric list and guardrail definitions. | 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 | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 90-180 min | 30-60 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 4-12 | 2-6 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement | Counter Metric List, Guardrail Definitions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility | MetricsMeasurementStrategyExperiments | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |