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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action. | 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. | 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 | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 1-3 Tage | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |