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| Criterion |  Facilitation Dot Estimation |  Architecture arc42 |  Agile Bucket System |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When size or effort can only be estimated roughly, Dot Estimation condenses the group's experience into a quick range. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as an Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, and Discussion Targets. | 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 a large batch of work needs a fast, rough estimate, it sorts items into predefined size buckets. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, and Split Candidates. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 5-20 min | 1-2 Tage | 30-90 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-20 | 1-4 | 3-12 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Effort Heatmap, Risk Signals, Discussion Targets | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, Split Candidates | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan |
Tagsno overlap | EstimationEffortRisk | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | EstimationBacklogRelative sizing | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas |