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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  UX Design Storyboarding |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | When a usage scenario needs to become understandable early, it condenses situations, context, and flow into a legible sequence. It helps check concept ideas before anything gets built. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-2 h | 30-90 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-8 | 1-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Storyboard, Concept Narrative, Testable Assumptions | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | VisualizationConceptsSequencePrototype | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |