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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Architecture C4 Model |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-4 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1-5 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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