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Architecture Decision Record (ADR)

Each significant decision: a text file with context, options, choice, consequences.

30 min Intermediate

Goal

Prevent "forgetting why we decided this a year ago" that triggers repeat debates.

Steps

1

Title: "ADR-NNN: [short decision]".

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Expected Outcome

Immediate

New team members get "why" instead of re-debating.

Evidence base

School: ThoughtWorks Tech Radar

Founders: Michael Nygard (2011)

Nygard — "Documenting Architecture Decisions" essay (2011); standard in ThoughtWorks and AWS Well-Architected.

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Architecture Decision Record (ADR)" take?

This exercise takes about 30 minutes, practiced solo in a Creative format.

When will I notice the effect of "Architecture Decision Record (ADR)"?

New team members get "why" instead of re-debating. In the short term: In 6 months, your first 12 ADRs save 40 meeting-hours.

Is "Architecture Decision Record (ADR)" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on ThoughtWorks Tech Radar (Michael Nygard (2011)). Nygard — "Documenting Architecture Decisions" essay (2011); standard in ThoughtWorks and AWS Well-Architected.

Is "Architecture Decision Record (ADR)" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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