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| Criterion | ![]() Delivery Value Stream Mapping | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Delivery Communication Plan | ![]() Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | 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 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 15-45 min | 45-90 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 1-3 | 2-6 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |



