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Selected:Architecture Inception CanvasSoftware Architecture CanvasArchitecture Decision RecordConsensus Workshop
| Criterion |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | 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 group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 1-3 | 5-30 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas |
Tagsno overlap | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment |