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| Criterion |  Facilitation Timeline |  Architecture C4 Model |  Facilitation Storytelling |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a project, incident, or change process is only remembered in fragments, Timeline brings the sequence back into a readable form. It makes turning points, precursors, and after-effects recognizable over the course of time. | 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. | When an insight needs to have an effect, storytelling translates dry facts into a comprehensible development. It combines context, tension, and consequence into a form that people remember and pass on more easily. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 1-4 h | 45-120 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope |
Participantsdifferent | 2-12 | 1-5 | 1-6 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Timeline, Milestones, Insight Notes | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Narrative Outline, Key Message, Story Arc | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations |
Tagsno overlap | TimelineFacilitationSequence | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | CommunicationNarrativeStakeholdersFacilitation | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders |