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Selected:Software Architecture CanvasArchitecture Decision Record3-Circle Venn DiagramArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Facilitation 3-Circle Venn Diagram |  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 three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies. | 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 | 15-45 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-3 | 2-8 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Venn Diagram, Overlap Notes, Differentiators | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ComparisonFacilitationAlignment | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |