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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  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. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | 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. | 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 | 1-3 h | 1-2 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 2-8 | 1-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |