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Criterion
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration for Golden Path
Engineering
Golden Path
Design sheets and interface cards connect to jointly written pseudocode with highlighted unresolved questions.
Architecture
ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs)
Purposedifferent
When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions.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 teams need a reliable default path for frequent use, sprawl quickly emerges without any guiding logic. Golden Path bundles the preferred path so good practice becomes easy and deviation becomes deliberate.ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowMediumMedium
Timedifferent
30-120 min15-45 min1-3 Tage Setup, laufend2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional
Participantsdifferent
2-61-32-8Designers, developers as users, and facilitation
Formatdifferent
WorkshopAsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Observation Notes, Improvement IdeasADR File, Decision Log, RationaleGolden Path Guide, Templates, Quality ChecksPrioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisions
Tagsno overlap
LeanObservationProcessOperations
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
EngineeringProductivityGovernance
ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks
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