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Selected:Context CanvasATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)C4 ModelLASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
| Criterion |  Product Discovery Context Canvas |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When an environment of users, systems, and constraints is hard to grasp, it puts the context compactly on the table. It creates a clear reading of influence, boundary, and dependency. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-4 h | 3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 1-5 | 1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | 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 |
Tagsno overlap | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean |