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| Criterion | ![]() Architecture C4 Model | ![]() Operations Process Mapping | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. | 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. | When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 h | 1-2 Tage | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-10 | 1-4 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ProcessOperationsImprovement | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | LeanObservationProcessOperations |



