Here's how you can simplify complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.

- Use analogies and examples that they are more familiar with. - Take examples from similar products. - Refer Case Studies on similar problem. - Refer industry standard best practices on the same. - Avoid Technical Jargons. Always remember to Respect non-technical stakeholders' expertise and contributions. Acknowledge their insights and avoid making them feel inadequate for not understanding technical details.

Here's where great storytelling comes to play. Pick a human-relatable analogy that is visual. No matter what level of technical comprehension, people relate to things that are visual. If you can evoke some emotion or memory in a person, such as "Remember that movie...", that even drives the point home more. The better the story, the greater chance that your non-technical audience will be interested and engaged in understanding what you're trying to describe. Ironic thing is, even if the story has no relation to the technical thing you're trying to describe, you still have a better chance of opening minds and creating understanding.

Almost all my presentations to customers or internal resources have analogues or references to something simple. Not only does it help in explaining the solution better but also as a motivator in many situations. Because of this, I have been able to explain solutions to customers in a manner where even large companies fail to do so after days of working session with them.

Relate the technical concept to something familiar to the stakeholders. some of the ways : - Familiar Situations: For example, if explaining cloud computing, you might liken it to renting a storage unit instead of owning a warehouse. Both store your stuff, but one is on-demand and scalable. - Everyday Activities: Compare the technical process to something people do regularly. For instance, explaining how a firewall works by likening it to a security guard checking IDs at the entrance of a building.

I am a whiteboard person. Even for myself, I use it a lot to clarify the situation or solution. I have extensively used the whiteboarding of solutions for customers and internal resources in almost all my meetings

Some folks process information better visually and I think at a certain point of complexity being able to display it visually allows folks to pick out the paths they care about, while appreciating that in a generalized way, that things are complicated. Graphviz is my go to FOSS tool to do this when it comes to workflow, flowcharts, or state changes when it gets to the point that it is not realistic for me to hold it all in my head let alone a non-technical stakeholder's.

Visual Aids in terms of even simple flow charts and icons are very important to make stakeholders understand the flow of application architecture through its various layers like Databases, Data Ingestion, Data Processing, API, UI, Security Firewall, Cloud and how they interact. Visuals can make abstract concepts more concrete and easier to understand.

Avoid Jargon and Acronyms and replace technical terms with simple words. If technical terms are unavoidable, then provide brief definitions. Explain the concept as if teaching it to a novice. Example Instead of saying: "Our new algorithm leverages machine learning to optimize predictive analytics models, enhancing accuracy and efficiency." You might say: "Our new tool uses advanced computer techniques to make better predictions faster, like a smart assistant that learns and improves over time."

Some of the ways - Start with Basics: Begin by explaining the purpose of application architecture in simple terms. For example, you could say, "Think of application architecture as the blueprint for how software is built and organized, just like how a house needs a plan before it's built". Provide Real-Life Examples: Give examples of well-known applications or websites and discuss how their architecture impacts their performance and user experience. For example, you could talk about how Netflix's architecture allows it to stream videos seamlessly to millions of users worldwide. Use Plain Language: Avoid technical jargon and use simple, straightforward language throughout your explanation.

One should encourage non-technical stakeholders to ask more questions to clear out any misunderstanding or assumptions they might have and on a personal note i strongly believe as quoted by Einstein "If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself".

Above all else, approach the conversation by assuming that the non-technical person is smart, capable, well-informed, and well-intentioned. Just because they don't know the jargon that you use or are not familiar with the details you're immersed in doesn't mean that they can't understand it and don't have something valuable to contribute. You goal is communicate the background, the concepts, and the problem that you're dealing with. The other person brings their background and specific area of expertise. Start by building a conceptual understanding and then dive a layer deeper into the details if you need to. And then ask questions "Does this make sense?" and "Does that answer your question?" before diving deep into the fine details.

Before considering any of the above approaches, you have to develop your storyline first. What is the key message you want to address the stakeholders? Some simple provoking questions which will guide the audience to focus and drive the desired outcomes are good enough.