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Criterion
Four paper stations connect system purpose, quality goals, risk cards and focused investigation with a target and gap profile.
Architecture
LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Purposedifferent
LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail.When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic.The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design.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
MediumMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional45-90 min60-120 min1-2 Tage
Participantsdifferent
1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people2-82-81-4
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Lean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checksDecision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected OptionCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication PlanArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean
DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
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