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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Architecture Request for Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
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 work processes are known only from accounts and the real context stays hidden, Contextual Inquiry makes behavior at the workplace visible. Observation and follow-up questions together show how people actually work, get interrupted, and improvise. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 Wochen | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 3-20 Reviewer |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | UX researchObservationContext | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance |
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
