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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture arc42 |  Decision Making Cynefin Workshop |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When problems are unclear, chaotic, or only seemingly familiar, standard recipes fall short. A Cynefin Workshop sorts situations by the nature of their problem and connects them with matching action logic. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-2 Tage | 60-180 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-4 | 4-20 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Cynefin Map, Domain-specific Actions, Sensemaking Notes | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ComplexitySensemakingDecision | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |