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| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Operations RACI Matrix | ![]() Architecture Request for Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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. | With unclear responsibilities across several roles or areas, the method creates unambiguous accountability logic. It reduces friction because decision, execution, contribution, and information become separately visible. | 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 | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 90-180 min | 15-45 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 | 1-3 | 2-8 | 3-20 Reviewer |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | RACI Matrix, Responsibility Map, Decision Notes | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets |
Tags1 shared | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RolesResponsibilityGovernanceOperations | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance |



