View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Pre-Mortem | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In early initiatives with many uncertainties, planning quickly turns too optimistic. A pre-mortem makes the expected failure visible in advance and sharpens the view of causes, gaps, and countermeasures. | 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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20–45 min | 1-2 Tage | 60-120 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Small cross-functional group | 1-4 | 2-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Risk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption log | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | RiskDecisionFailurePlanning | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |



