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| Criterion |  Engineering Fault Isolation |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Decision Making DACI |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In technical failures, the visible symptom often gets mixed up with the actual cause. Fault Isolation narrows the fault space and progressively reduces which part of the system is truly affected. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-180 min | 1-3 h | 30-60 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 2-8 | 2-10 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Fault Isolation Map, Test Log, Excluded Hypotheses, Narrowed Fault Area | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | TroubleshootingDiagnosisEngineering | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |