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| Criterion |  Innovation How Might We |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With a stuck problem carrying many implicit assumptions, the method translates observations into open, workable questions. It sharpens the problem frame without pre-thinking the solution, turning frustration or fuzziness into a search space with clear direction. | A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–45 min | 30-90 min | 1-2 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 2-10 | 3-8 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | HMW Questions, Challenge Framing, Idea Prompts | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | FramingOpportunityIdeationQuestions | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |