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| Criterion |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Views and Beyond organizes architecture into several views so no single diagram has to do everything at once. This makes it possible to choose the representation that fits the stakeholder's question. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Tage | 45–90 min | 30–60 min | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 3-10 | 4-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |