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Selected:Causal Factor AnalysisArchitecture Decision RecordArchitecture Communication CanvasArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 15-45 min | 60-120 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-3 | 2-8 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |