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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for Causal Factor Analysis.
Operations
Causal Factor Analysis
Purposedifferent
Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely.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.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
MediumMediumHigh
Timedifferent
1-2 h1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung2-6 h
Participantsdifferent
3-123-20 Reviewer3-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsEvent Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)