How do you balance architectural quality attributes?

1 Identify and prioritize quality attributes

The first step to balance architectural quality attributes is to identify and prioritize them based on the needs and expectations of the stakeholders, the context and constraints of the system, and the relevant standards and regulations. You can use techniques such as quality attribute scenarios, utility trees, and quality attribute workshops to elicit, analyze, and document the quality attributes and their importance. You should also consider the interdependencies and trade-offs among the quality attributes and how they affect each other.

2 Apply architectural patterns and tactics

The next step is to apply architectural patterns and tactics that address the quality attributes and their trade-offs. Architectural patterns are reusable solutions that provide a structure and a rationale for a system. They can help you achieve consistency, modularity, and reuse of components and connectors. Architectural tactics are design decisions that affect a specific quality attribute. They can help you implement, measure, and improve the quality attributes of a system. You should choose the patterns and tactics that best suit your system goals, context, and constraints, and evaluate their impact on the quality attributes.

3 Use architectural views and perspectives

The third step is to use architectural views and perspectives to communicate and validate the architectural design. Architectural views are representations of the system from different angles, such as logical, physical, development, or deployment. They can help you show how the system meets the functional and non-functional requirements, and how the components and connectors interact. Architectural perspectives are cross-cutting concerns that affect multiple views, such as security, performance, or testing. They can help you identify and address the risks and issues that arise from the quality attributes and their trade-offs.

4 Apply iterative and incremental development

The fourth step is to apply iterative and incremental development to refine and improve the architectural design. Iterative and incremental development is a process that breaks down the system into smaller and manageable chunks, and delivers them in cycles of planning, designing, implementing, testing, and feedback. It can help you cope with changing requirements, reduce complexity, increase quality, and deliver value faster. You should use feedback loops and metrics to monitor and evaluate the quality attributes of the system, and make adjustments and improvements as needed.

5 Involve and collaborate with stakeholders

The final step is to involve and collaborate with stakeholders throughout the architectural design process. Stakeholders are the people who have an interest or influence on the system, such as users, customers, developers, testers, managers, or regulators. They can provide valuable insights, feedback, and validation for the quality attributes and their trade-offs. You should communicate and negotiate with them regularly, using clear and consistent language, diagrams, and models. You should also manage their expectations and resolve any conflicts or disagreements that may arise.

6 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?