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| Criterion |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture arc42 |  Decision Making Option Framing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. | 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. | 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. | In early decisions, alternatives are often still vague, incomplete, or blended together. Option Framing brings every possibility into a comparable form and makes visible which variant actually fits the question. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-4 h | 1-2 Tage | 45-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Option Frames, Assumption Notes, Comparable Shortlist, Decision Inputs |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisOptions | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | OptionsDecision framingStrategyComparison |