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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-2 Tage | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-4 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |