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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Decision Making Delphi Method | ![]() Decision Making Wideband Delphi | ![]() 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. | When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together. | A single opinion rarely holds up for planning when the future is genuinely uncertain. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as an Estimate Range, Assumption Log, and Expert Consensus Notes. | 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 | High | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 Wochen | 1-4 h or multiple rounds | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 6-30 Experten | 4-12 Experten | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Expert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption Notes | Estimate Range, Assumption Log, Expert Consensus Notes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy | EstimationExpertsForecasting | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |



