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Criterion
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
Paper illustration of two people facing each other, speech bubbles and an open interview notebook.
UX Research
User Interviews
Paper illustration of two user profile cards with a goal, behavior evidence, and an open research question.
UX Research
Personas
Purposedifferent
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.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.When teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 Tage15-45 min30–60 min per interview1-3 Tage
Participantsdifferent
1-41-31 participant per interviewInternes Team
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewADR File, Decision Log, RationaleInterview Notes, Themes, Insight SummaryPersona Profiles, Needs Summary, Scenario Notes
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery
ResearchCustomerSynthesis
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