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| Criterion |  Architecture Quality Attribute Workshop |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | A Quality Attribute Workshop translates quality requirements into concrete scenarios and architecture impulses. The method brings product, engineering, and operations to the same view of desired properties. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 15-45 min | 45–90 min | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 1-3 | 3-10 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Quality Scenarios, Priority List, Architecture Concerns | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | RequirementsArchitectureWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |