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Criterion
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Views and Beyond method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Views and Beyond
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 options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic.Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 Tage45-90 min1-3 Tage
Participantsdifferent
1-42-81-4
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewDecision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected OptionArchitecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs
DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture
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Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
A paper-based illustration representing C4 Model with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
C4 Model