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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |  Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same time. | When an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 h | 60–90 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 5-30 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop |