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| Criterion |  Decision Making Assumption Surfacing |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | 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. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-8 | 1-3 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes |
Tagsno overlap | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RationaleKnowledgeDecision |