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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration of two user profile cards with a goal, behavior evidence, and an open research question.
UX Research
Personas
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
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.When target groups stay too vague and teams talk about the same people differently, personas create a shared, solid picture of usage. Condensed profiles make needs, contexts, and differences tangible enough for decisions.An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable.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
LowMediumLowLow
Timedifferent
45–90 min1-3 Tage15-45 min1-2 Tage
Participantsdifferent
3-10Internes Team1-31-4
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasPersona Profiles, Needs Summary, Scenario NotesADR File, Decision Log, RationaleArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
ResearchCustomerSynthesis
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
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