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Selected:Goal Question MetricArchitecture Decision RecordArchitecture Inception CanvasSoftware Architecture Canvas
| Criterion |  Engineering Goal Question Metric |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Helps clarify technical problems, hypotheses, and next steps in concrete terms. It breaks a technical problem into testable parts. The result is captured as a GQM table and metric briefs. | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 90-180 min | 15-45 min | 1-2 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-6 | 1-3 | 3-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | GQM Table, Metric Profiles | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes |
Tagsno overlap | MetricsMeasurementEngineeringAlignment | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop |