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Selected:Value Stream MappingSoftware Architecture CanvasArchitecture Decision RecordArchitecture Communication Canvas
| Criterion | ![]() Delivery Value Stream Mapping | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 3-10 | 1-3 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan |
Tagsno overlap | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas |



