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Criterion
Paper illustration for RAPID
Decision Making
RAPID
Paper illustration with architecture components and concrete change tasks for comparison.
Architecture
SAAM (Software Architecture Analysis Method)
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Purposedifferent
In complex management decisions, clarity is often missing about who recommends, who agrees, and who makes the decision. RAPID creates this assignment and stabilizes decisions across several levels.SAAM helps teams judge an architecture’s suitability for selected tasks and changes. It is particularly useful for examining modifiability and comparing architecture alternatives with clear reasoning.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
MediumHighLow
Timedifferent
45-90 minPreparation, scenario analysis, and findings review; effort depends on scope15-45 min
Participantsdifferent
3-12Architecture experts and stakeholders for scenarios and weighting1-3
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
RAPID Role Map, Recommendation, Decision LogDomain functions mapped to components and connections, Quality attributes and evaluation criteria, Typical tasks and their effects on the architecture, Reasoned evaluation or comparison of alternativesADR File, Decision Log, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
DecisionRolesGovernance
ArchitectureChangeAnalysisComparisonQuality
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping