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Criterion
A hypothetical failure makes concrete risks, signals, and fitting mitigations visible.
Decision Making
Pre-Mortem
Paper illustration of a calibrated five-by-five risk matrix with response cards.
Decision Making
Risk Matrix
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Purposedifferent
In early initiatives with many uncertainties, planning quickly turns too optimistic. A pre-mortem makes the expected failure visible in advance and sharpens the view of causes, gaps, and countermeasures.When a project faces many possible disruptions, it quickly becomes unclear which risks deserve attention first. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Risk Matrix and a Top Risk List.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 Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowLowMedium
Timedifferent
20–45 min30-60 min1-2 Tage60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
Small cross-functional group3-101-42-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Risk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption logRisk Matrix, Top Risk ListArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan
Tagsno overlap
RiskDecisionFailurePlanning
RiskDecisionPrioritizationAssessment
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
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