View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Facilitation Mind Mapping |  Architecture Request for Comments |  Innovation Brainwriting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | 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. | When loud voices or hierarchy distort the idea search, the method creates a quiet entry into joint development. It gives everyone thinking space and gathers contributions without social brakes, making diversity more visible and easier to build on. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 15-45 min | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-10 | 3-20 Reviewer | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets | Idea sheets, Expanded concepts, Prioritized list |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance | BrainstormingCollaborationInclusionIdeas |