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Selected:Affinity DiagrammingSoftware Architecture CanvasAlignment MappingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-2 h | 1-2 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-10 | 4-12 | 3-8 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |