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| Criterion |  Decision Making DACI |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | 15-45 min | 1-2 h | 90-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-10 | 1-3 | 3-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement |
Tagsno overlap | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility |