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| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Delphi Method | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Decision Making Risk Matrix | ![]() Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together. | 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. | When a project faces many possible disruptions, it quickly becomes unclear which risks deserve attention first. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Risk Matrix and a Top Risk List. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 Wochen | 15-45 min | 30-60 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 6-30 Experten | 1-3 | 3-10 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Expert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption Notes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Risk Matrix, Top Risk List | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RiskDecisionPrioritizationAssessment | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |



