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Selected:Architecture Inception CanvasEmpathy MappingSoftware Architecture CanvasAffinity Diagramming
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 30–60 min | 1-2 h | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 4-8 | 3-10 | 3-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |