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| Criterion |  Architecture Request for Comments |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Systems Thinking Causal Loop Diagram |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | A Causal Loop Diagram makes feedback, reinforcement, and balance in a system legible. It uncovers side effects and self-reinforcement that stay hidden in linear explanations. | 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 | Medium | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 2-6 h | 1-3 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 Reviewer | 3-10 | 2-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Causal Loop Diagram, Feedback Notes, Leverage Points | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | FeedbackSystems thinkingCausalityDynamics | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |