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Selected:Working BackwardsSoftware Architecture CanvasArchitecture Decision RecordArchitecture Inception Canvas
| Criterion | ![]() Product Discovery Working Backwards | ![]() Architecture Software Architecture Canvas | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Architecture Architecture Inception 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. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 4-8 h, mehrere Iterationen | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-10 | 1-3 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Future Press Release, FAQ, Vision Statement | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | VisionNarrativeAlignment | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |



