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| Criterion | ![]() Facilitation Mind Mapping | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture Request for Comments | ![]() Innovation Brainwriting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | 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. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. | When loud voices or hierarchy distort the idea search, the method creates a quiet entry into joint development. It gives everyone thinking space and gathers contributions without social brakes, making diversity more visible and easier to build on. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 15-45 min | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 1-3 | 3-20 Reviewer | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Idea sheets, Expanded concepts, Prioritized list |
Tagsno overlap | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | BrainstormingCollaborationInclusionIdeas |



