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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for Domain Context Map
Domain Modeling
Domain Context Map
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 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.When a domain model and its associated contexts need to be thought through together, it creates a shared overview. It connects the business view and organizational boundary into a readable whole.
Complexitysame
MediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen3-20 Reviewer3-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsDomain Context Map, Boundary Notes, Ownership Map
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
Domain-Driven DesignContextBoundaries
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Often compared together

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

Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
A paper-based illustration representing Bounded Context Canvas with its core stages and visible working result.
Domain Modeling
Bounded Context Canvas
Context Map workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Domain Modeling
Context Map