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Criterion
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Paper illustration of the Consensus Workshop working structure.
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 central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem.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
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 Tage1-2 h45-90 min1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
1-44-123-105-30
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision QuestionsLotus Diagram, Idea Themes, ShortlistConsensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop
FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment
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