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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Decision Making Decision Framing Workshop |  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. | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. | When a decision is poorly framed, even good answers deliver little value. A Decision Framing Workshop sharpens the problem, goal, and boundaries before the actual weighing begins. | 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 | 1-2 h | 60-120 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-10 | 4-10 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Decision Frame, Decision Question, Criteria List, Evidence Plan | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | StrategyAnalysisOptions | Decision framingAlignmentCriteriaOptions | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |