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| Criterion |  Architecture Risk Storming |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Architecture arc42 |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Helps clarify architecture context, options, and consequences in concrete terms. It organizes technical context, alternatives, and consequences. The result is captured as an Annotated Diagram, a Prioritized Risk List, and an Action Backlog. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 60-90 min | 45–90 min | 1-2 Tage | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 | 3-10 | 1-4 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Annotated Diagram, Prioritized Risk List, Action Backlog | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | RiskArchitectureWorkshopValidation | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |