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Selected:Knowledge MappingArchitecture Decision Record5 WhysLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
| Criterion |  Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations 5 Whys |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable. | 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 a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 15-45 min | 15-30 min | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 1-3 | 2-6 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks |
Tagsno overlap | KnowledgeMappingRisk | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean |