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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 Root Cause Tree Analysis
Operations
Root Cause Tree Analysis
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration for Root Cause Analysis.
Operations
Root Cause Analysis
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 a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie.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.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
MediumMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung1-3 h15-45 min1-4 h
Participantsdifferent
3-20 Reviewer2-81-33-8
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshopAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsCause Tree, Evidence Notes, CountermeasuresADR File, Decision Log, RationaleProblem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
Root causeTreeIncidentQuality
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident
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