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Criterion
Paper illustration of an activity-role table with clear RACI assignments and one highlighted accountable role per activity.
Operations
RACI Matrix
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
A 5 Whys working surface connects an observable problem with evidenced causes, marked uncertainty and concrete countermeasures with ownership.
Operations
5 Whys
Paper illustration for Root Cause Analysis.
Operations
Root Cause Analysis
Purposedifferent
With unclear responsibilities across several roles or areas, the method creates unambiguous accountability logic. It reduces friction because decision, execution, contribution, and information become separately visible.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.For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description.When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowLowMedium
Timedifferent
45-90 min15-45 min15-30 min1-4 h
Participantsdifferent
2-81-32-63-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
RACI Matrix, Responsibility Map, Decision NotesADR File, Decision Log, RationaleRoot cause notes, CountermeasuresProblem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan
Tagsno overlap
RolesResponsibilityGovernanceOperations
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving
Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident
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