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Criterion
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Views and Beyond method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Views and Beyond
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.When many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost.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.Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung45-90 min15-45 min1-3 Tage
Participantsdifferent
3-20 Reviewer2-61-31-4
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsCommunication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message CadenceADR File, Decision Log, RationaleArchitecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture
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