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| Criterion |  Architecture Request for Comments |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture arc42 |  Decision Making DACI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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. | In cross-functional decisions, responsibilities quickly blur between approval, influence, and execution. DACI arranges these roles so decision pressure, contribution, and information stay cleanly separated. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 Reviewer | 3-8 | 1-4 | 2-10 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment |