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| Criterion |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When work processes are known only from accounts and the real context stays hidden, Contextual Inquiry makes behavior at the workplace visible. Observation and follow-up questions together show how people actually work, get interrupted, and improvise. | 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. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 1-4 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 1-5 | 1-4 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |
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