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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |  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. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. | A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 Tage | 30-90 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 1-4 | 2-10 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |