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Selected:Architecture Communication CanvasC4 ModelRoot Cause AnalysisATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture C4 Model |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 60-120 min | 1-4 h | 1-4 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-5 | 3-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |