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| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Assumption Surfacing | ![]() Architecture C4 Model | ![]() Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas | ![]() Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-4 h | 1-2 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-5 | 3-8 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |



