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| Criterion |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 | 1-3 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas |
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