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| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  UX Research Customer Journey Mapping |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | When a user journey falls apart across many touchpoints, customer journey mapping makes the experience visible as a coherent arc. Phases, emotions, and breaks become legible enough to prioritize critical moments deliberately. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 2-4 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-3 | 4-10 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Journey Map, Pain-point List, Opportunity Backlog | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | JourneyServiceService design | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |