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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration for RAPID
Decision Making
RAPID
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Purposedifferent
When work processes are known only from accounts and the real context stays hidden, Contextual Inquiry makes behavior at the workplace visible. Observation and follow-up questions together show how people actually work, get interrupted, and improvise.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 complex management decisions, clarity is often missing about who recommends, who agrees, and who makes the decision. RAPID creates this assignment and stabilizes decisions across several levels.An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen15-45 min45-90 min1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen1-33-123-20 Reviewer
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsADR File, Decision Log, RationaleRAPID Role Map, Recommendation, Decision LogRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
DecisionRolesGovernance
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
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