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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Facilitation Alignment 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. | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 45-90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 3-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |
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