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Criterion
Paper illustration for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
A paper-based illustration representing arc42 with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
arc42
Paper illustration for Constraint Analysis.
Decision Making
Constraint Analysis
Purposedifferent
With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects.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.When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowLow
Timedifferent
45-120 min1-2 Tage30-90 min
Participantsdifferent
2-81-42-8
Formatsame
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Trade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted DownsidesArchitecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment ViewConstraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries
Tagsno overlap
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication
ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
A paper-based illustration representing C4 Model with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
C4 Model