View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Operations Scatter Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | When the question is whether two measures are related, the method makes patterns in the data picture visible. It separates felt correlations from relationships that actually show up in the data. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 45–90 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Scatter Plot, Korrelationsnotiz, Hypothesenliste |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | Root causeQualityVisualization |