View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Business Strategy Value Chain Analysis |  Architecture arc42 |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Value Chain Analysis shows where value is created, costs accrue, and differentiation becomes possible along the process. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a value-chain map and lever list. | 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 Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | Half day | 1-2 Tage | 60-120 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 1-4 | 2-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Value Chain Map, Lever List | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |