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| Criterion |  Innovation Design Thinking |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture arc42 |  Innovation Design Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | 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. | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 1-4 h | 1-2 Tage | 4-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 5-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | InnovationPrototypeResearch | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation |