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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Facilitation Dot Voting |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 workshop has produced too many options and the group needs to condense quickly, dot voting makes preferences visible in a short time. It bundles individual votes into a solid signal for the next selection. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 5-15 min | 15-45 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-20 | 1-3 | 5-30 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Ranked list, Consensus signal, Shortlist | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | FacilitationVotingConsensusPrioritization | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment |