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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
A paper-based illustration representing Bounded Context Canvas with its core stages and visible working result.
Domain Modeling
Bounded Context Canvas
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.When a business context is still loosely outlined, it shapes language, responsibility, and integration space. It clarifies what belongs together and where a boundary needs to hold.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.
Complexitysame
MediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen1-3 h1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen3-83-20 Reviewer
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsContext Canvas, Glossary, Integration NotesRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
Domain-Driven DesignBoundariesModeling
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Domain Context Map
Domain Modeling
Domain Context Map
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Context Map workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Domain Modeling
Context Map