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Selected:Dot EstimationValue Stream MappingArchitecture Decision RecordLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
| Criterion |  Facilitation Dot Estimation |  Delivery Value Stream Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | 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. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 5-20 min | 1-3 h | 15-45 min | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 | 4-10 | 1-3 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion Targets | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks |
Tagsno overlap | EstimationEffortRisk | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean |