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| Criterion |  Decision Making Delphi Method |  Architecture C4 Model |  Business Strategy McKinsey 7S |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When knowledge is distributed and direct dominance should be avoided, groups quickly fall under the sway of their opinion leaders. The Delphi Method gathers assessments iteratively and gradually brings expert judgments closer together. | 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. | McKinsey 7S checks whether Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff fit together. Organizational misalignments become visible across multiple levers as a result. | 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 | High | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 Wochen | 1-4 h | 2-4 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 6-30 Experten | 1-5 | 3-12 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Expert Forecast, Consensus Range, Assumption Notes | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | 7S Assessment, Alignment Gaps, Change Actions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | ForecastingExpertsDecisionStrategy | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | OrganizationStrategyAlignmentChange | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |