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| Criterion |  DevOps Incident Timeline Analysis |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  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. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. | 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. | 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 | 1-4 h | 15-45 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-5 | 1-3 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Incident Timeline, Evidence Log, Delay Analysis, Improvement Actions | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | IncidentTimelineSite Reliability Engineering | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |