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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | KnowledgeMappingRisk |
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