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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  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. | Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable. | 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 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 | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-3 h | 60-120 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-12 | 2-8 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | KnowledgeMappingRisk | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |