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Selected:Goal Question MetricArchitecture Decision RecordArchitecture Communication CanvasSoftware Architecture Canvas
| Criterion | ![]() Engineering Goal Question Metric | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Helps clarify technical problems, hypotheses, and next steps in concrete terms. It breaks a technical problem into testable parts. The result is captured as a GQM table and metric briefs. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 90-180 min | 15-45 min | 60-120 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-6 | 1-3 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | GQM Table, Metric Profiles | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes |
Tagsno overlap | MetricsMeasurementEngineeringAlignment | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop |



