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| Criterion |  DevOps Incident Timeline Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture arc42 |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an incident with an unclear sequence, the method makes the timeline precisely visible. It separates perception, reaction, and delay so cause and effect become more clearly readable. | 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. | 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. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 60-180 min | 15-45 min | 1-2 Tage | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Incident Timeline, Evidence Log, Delay Analysis, Improvement Actions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | IncidentTimelineSite Reliability Engineering | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |