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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture C4 Model | ![]() Operations 5 Whys | ![]() Operations Change Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 15-30 min | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison |
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