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| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Argument Mapping | ![]() Operations Causal Factor Analysis | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | 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 | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 2-6 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 3-10 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | SensemakingDecisionRationale | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |
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