View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Architecture Views and Beyond |  Innovation Design Thinking |  Architecture C4 Model |  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. | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | 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. | 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 | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Tage | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 1-4 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 4-10 | 1-5 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Architecture Views, Cross-view Notes, Rationale | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | DocumentationStakeholdersArchitecture | InnovationPrototypeResearch | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |