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| Criterion |  Architecture arc42 |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Decision Making Argument Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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 statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 45–90 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 3-10 | 1-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SensemakingDecisionRationale |
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