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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Delivery Communication Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | When many people need to be informed in parallel and messages would otherwise arrive unevenly or too late, a Communication Plan orders communication reliably. Channels, audiences, and cadences interlock so important information doesn't get lost. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-4 h | 60-120 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1-5 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Communication Plan, Channel Matrix, Message Cadence |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | CommunicationStakeholdersDeliveryPlanning |