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| Criterion | ![]() Product Discovery Working Backwards | ![]() Architecture arc42 | ![]() Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When the target state and benefit need to be clear first, it thinks backward from the desired outcome into the product logic. It sharpens vision, objections, and value proposition before elaboration. | 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 Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 4-8 h, mehrere Iterationen | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 1-4 | 3-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Future Press Release, FAQ, Vision Statement | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes |
Tagsno overlap | VisionNarrativeAlignment | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop |



