How can you balance technical requirements and business needs in an architecture review?

2 Involve the right people

An architecture review is not a solo activity, but a collaborative one. You need to involve the right people in the review process, both from the technical and the business side. The technical team should include the architects, developers, testers, and operators of the system, as well as any external experts or consultants. The business team should include the product owners, managers, sponsors, and users of the system, as well as any regulatory or compliance authorities. By involving the right people, you can ensure that the review covers all the relevant perspectives, concerns, and feedback.

3 Use a framework

An architecture review can be overwhelming if you try to cover everything at once. You need to use a framework to structure and organize the review process. A framework can help you define the scope, objectives, and deliverables of the review, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and activities of the participants. A framework can also help you select the appropriate methods, tools, and techniques for conducting the review, such as checklists, questionnaires, interviews, workshops, diagrams, models, metrics, or prototypes. By using a framework, you can make the review more efficient, consistent, and transparent.

5 Communicate the results

An architecture review is not complete until you communicate the results to the stakeholders. You need to prepare a report or a presentation that summarizes the findings, recommendations, and action items of the review. You need to use clear, concise, and consistent language and terminology that the stakeholders can understand and relate to. You need to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the system, as well as the benefits, costs, and risks of the proposed solutions. You need to also solicit and address any questions, comments, or feedback from the stakeholders. By communicating the results, you can gain the trust, support, and approval of the stakeholders.

6 Follow up and monitor

An architecture review is not a one-time event, but a continuous process. You need to follow up and monitor the progress and outcomes of the review. You need to track and measure the implementation and effectiveness of the action items and solutions. You need to verify and validate that the issues are resolved or mitigated, and that the system meets the technical and business requirements. You need to also update and revise the architecture as needed, based on the changes, feedback, or lessons learned. By following up and monitoring, you can ensure that the system is aligned with the goals, objectives, and expectations of the stakeholders.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?