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Selected:CATWOE AnalysisSoftware Architecture CanvasArchitecture Communication CanvasAlignment Mapping
| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas | ![]() Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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 several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-2 h | 60-120 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |



