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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 2-6 h | 15-45 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-10 | 1-3 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |