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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture arc42 |  UX Research User Interviews |  Product Discovery Opportunity Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | When teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible. | When opportunities are still hidden behind signals of need, it structures conversations around needs and obstacles. It looks for patterns that lead to new product opportunities. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-2 Tage | 30–60 min per interview | 30-60 min je Interview |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-4 | 1 participant per interview | 5-12 Interviews |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Interview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary | Interview Notes, Opportunity Themes, Customer Quotes |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery | DiscoveryInterviewsOpportunityCustomer |