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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Affinity Diagramming | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas | ![]() Architecture Views and Beyond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | 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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-2 Tage | 60-120 min | 1-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-4 | 2-8 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture |



