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| Criterion |  Decision Making Pareto Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Decision Making Risk Matrix |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In many problem situations, effect is distributed unequally across many causes. A Pareto Analysis separates the few drivers with high leverage from the long remainder and focuses attention on what measurably moves the needle. | 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. | When a project faces many possible disruptions, it quickly becomes unclear which risks deserve attention first. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Risk Matrix and a Top Risk List. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | 15-45 min | 30-60 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 1-3 | 3-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Pareto Chart, Top Causes, Focus List | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Risk Matrix, Top Risk List | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | PrioritizationQualityFocusRoot cause | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | RiskDecisionPrioritizationAssessment | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |