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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Facilitation Alignment Mapping | ![]() Innovation Brainstorming | ![]() Facilitation Consensus Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | When a group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 h | 30-60 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 4-12 | 4-12 | 5-30 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment |



