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| Criterion |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Architecture arc42 |  Decision Making Option Framing |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | In early decisions, alternatives are often still vague, incomplete, or blended together. Option Framing brings every possibility into a comparable form and makes visible which variant actually fits the question. | 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 | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage | 45-120 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-4 | 3-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Option Frames, Assumption Notes, Comparable Shortlist, Decision Inputs | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisOptions | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | OptionsDecision framingStrategyComparison | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |