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| Criterion |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Views and Beyond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an improvement that still has to prove itself in everyday work, the method runs it through small learning loops. It connects planning, checking, and standardization into a repeatable learning mode. | 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. | 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. | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h | 1-3 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 1-4 | 1-5 | 1-4 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture |