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Criterion
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper illustration of two user profile cards with a goal, behavior evidence, and an open research question.
UX Research
Personas
Paper illustration for RAPID
Decision Making
RAPID
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
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 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.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 RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 Tage1-3 Tage45-90 min1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung
Participantsdifferent
1-4Internes Team3-123-20 Reviewer
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewPersona Profiles, Needs Summary, Scenario NotesRAPID Role Map, Recommendation, Decision LogRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
ResearchCustomerSynthesis
DecisionRolesGovernance
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
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