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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Systems Mapping |  Architecture arc42 |  Systems Thinking Evaporating Cloud |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Systems Mapping arranges elements, relationships, and boundaries so a complex field becomes legible at a glance. The overview stabilizes the overall picture before detail work or steering begins. | 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 method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. | 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 | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1-2 Tage | 60-120 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 1-4 | 2-8 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | System Map, Dependencies, Leverage Points | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingMappingBoundariesChange | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |