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Criterion
How Might We
Innovation
How Might We
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Purposedifferent
With a stuck problem carrying many implicit assumptions, the method translates observations into open, workable questions. It sharpens the problem frame without pre-thinking the solution, turning frustration or fuzziness into a search space with clear direction.Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely.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
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
30–45 min1-2 h15-45 min
Participantsdifferent
1-103-121-3
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopAsync
Outputdifferent
HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea PromptsPolarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsADR File, Decision Log, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for CATWOE Analysis.
Systems Thinking
CATWOE Analysis
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments