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| Criterion |  Architecture arc42 |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|
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 content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 20-45 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | Based on research question | 2-8 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | Information architectureNavigationStructure | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas |
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