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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Polarity Mapping |  Agile WSJF |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely. | When many tasks compete for the same capacity, it orders work by economic impact. It makes time lost, benefit, and effort comparable together. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 45-90 min | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 3-10 | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance Actions | Ranked Backlog, Cost-of-Delay Assumptions | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership | LeanEconomicsSequencePrioritization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |