A method author uses a method generator to create a customized project-specific method that includes first class decision elements. The decision elements are included in a meta model for a process framework, and describe actual decisions for a user to resolve. Once created, a method advisor uses the project-specific method to guide a user through architectural decisions by refining the project-specific method's process flow based upon the user's decisions. The refining includes removing activity elements and decision elements from the process flow that are not reachable by a path corresponding to the user's choice selection. The method advisor also stores the user's choice selections, along with considerations, conditions, and consequences, for the use to view at a later date.