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Selected:Software Architecture CanvasArchitecture Decision RecordCard SortingArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | 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 content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | The Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 20-45 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-3 | Based on research question | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | Information architectureNavigationStructure | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |