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Criterion
Paper illustration for Problem Interview
Product Discovery
Problem Interview
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Purposedifferent
When the picture of the problem still needs to become solid, it asks about real situations and consequences. It separates genuine suffering from mere interest in a solution.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.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.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.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowMediumLow
Timedifferent
30-60 min je Interview15-45 min1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
5-12 Interviews1-33-20 Reviewer2-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Problem Evidence, Risk Notes, Customer SegmentsADR File, Decision Log, RationaleRFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan
Tagsno overlap
DiscoveryInterviewsValidation
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
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