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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs) |  Architecture Risk Storming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification. | Helps clarify architecture context, options, and consequences in concrete terms. It organizes technical context, alternatives, and consequences. The result is captured as an Annotated Diagram, a Prioritized Risk List, and an Action Backlog. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-4 h | 2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional | 60-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-5 | Designers, developers as users, and facilitation | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Prioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisions | Annotated Diagram, Prioritized Risk List, Action Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks | RiskArchitectureWorkshopValidation |