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| Criterion |  Product Discovery Context Canvas |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When an environment of users, systems, and constraints is hard to grasp, it puts the context compactly on the table. It creates a clear reading of influence, boundary, and dependency. | For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together. | 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 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 | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 45-90 min | 15-45 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-5 | 1-3 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |