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| Criterion | ![]() Facilitation Mind Mapping | ![]() Architecture C4 Model | ![]() Architecture Request for Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | 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. | An RFC clarifies architecture context, options, and consequences. It structures technical context, alternatives, tradeoffs, open questions, and review feedback, and captures the result as an RFC document, reviewer comments, and a decision rationale. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-45 min | 1-4 h | 1-3 Wochen vom Draft bis zur Entscheidung |
Participantsdifferent | 1-10 | 1-5 | 3-20 Reviewer |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | RFC document, Reviewer comments, Decision rationale, Follow-up ADR or tickets |
Tagsno overlap | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureDecisionAsyncGovernance |
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