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| Criterion |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Decision Rights Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | 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. | In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 90-180 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-12 | 1-3 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Decision Rights Matrix, Agreement |
Tagsno overlap | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility |