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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 60-120 min | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 3-10 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |