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Selected:Constraint AnalysisArchitecture Decision RecordDecision Rights MappingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | 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. | In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 15-45 min | 90-180 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-3 | 4-12 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |