methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Paper illustration of Request for Comments (RFC) with its method-specific working model.
Architecture
Request for Comments
Views and Beyond method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Views and Beyond
Paper illustration of Decision Rights Mapping with its method-specific working model.
Decision Making
Decision Rights Mapping
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
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.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.In organizations with many stakeholders, it often blurs who actually decides and who is merely consulted. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement.When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable.
Complexitysame
MediumMediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung1-3 Tage90-180 min1-2 h
Participantsdifferent
3-20 Reviewer1-44-124-12
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or ticketsArchitecture Views, Cross-view Notes, RationaleDecision Rights Matrix, AgreementAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance
DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture
DecisionGovernanceAlignmentResponsibility
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
Add more methods