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| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling PARA Method | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Decision Making Assumption Surfacing | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The PARA Method organizes knowledge into Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. It creates order when digital notes, files, and tasks no longer cleanly fit current work. | 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. | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h Setup, laufend | 1-2 Tage | 45-90 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1 | 1-4 | 2-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | PARA Structure, Project Notes, Knowledge Archive | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | KnowledgeProductivityOrganization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |



