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| Criterion | ![]() Business Strategy GAP Analysis | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Decision Making Assumption Surfacing | ![]() Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. | 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. | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. | 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 | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 15-45 min | 45-90 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-3 | 2-8 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisPlanning | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |



