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| Criterion |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Decision Making Decision Matrix |  Decision Making DACI |  Architecture Request for Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 45-90 min | 30-60 min | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 2-10 | 3-20 Reviewer |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option | DACI Matrix, Decision Owner, Decision Log | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs | DecisionRolesGovernanceAlignment | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance |