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Selected:Context CanvasArchitecture Decision RecordDecision Rights MappingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Product Discovery Context Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |  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. | 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 | 45-90 min | 15-45 min | 90-180 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-3 | 4-12 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |