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| Criterion | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Systems Thinking Rich Picture | ![]() Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-2 h | 30-90 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 2-10 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas |



