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Selected:Card SortingArchitecture Communication CanvasATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)arc42
| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | 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 | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 60-120 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 2-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 1-4 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |