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Selected:Card SortingArchitecture Communication CanvasLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)C4 Model
| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 60-120 min | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 2-8 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people | 1-5 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checks | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |