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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Innovation Morphological Analysis |  Innovation Contradiction Analysis |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a search for solutions with many degrees of freedom, a grid emerges for systematic combinations. The method separates features, variants, and exclusion criteria, so the space gets explored deliberately. | When a system should improve while another measure suffers as a result, the method makes the underlying conflict precisely formulable. It separates the desired effect from its side effect. This makes solutions possible that address the contradiction deliberately instead of half-heartedly. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 h | 60-120 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Morphological Box, Concept Combinations, Idea Shortlist | Contradiction Statement, Abstraction Notes, Solution Principles, Concept Ideas | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | IdeationInnovationCreativity | ContradictionsInnovationProblem solving | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |