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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Innovation Design Thinking |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Innovation Design Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 1-2 h | 4-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 4-10 | 3-8 | 5-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | InnovationPrototypeResearch | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation |