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| Criterion | ![]() Facilitation Dot Estimation | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Delivery Communication Plan | ![]() Architecture Views and Beyond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When size or effort can only be estimated roughly, Dot Estimation condenses the group's experience into a quick range. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as an Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, and Discussion Targets. | 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 many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 5-20 min | 15-45 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 | 1-3 | 2-6 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion Targets | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | EstimationEffortRisk | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture |



