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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 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
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.A Current Reality Tree condenses many symptoms into a few causal chains. The method makes visible which core problems drive several negative effects at once.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
MediumMediumHighLow
Timedifferent
1-2 h1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung2-6 h15-45 min
Participantsdifferent
3-123-20 Reviewer3-81-3
Formatdifferent
WorkshopAsyncWorkshopAsync
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsCurrent Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention IdeasADR File, Decision Log, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
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