What are the best ways to manage a project with complex architecture?

For a Solution or Enterprise Architect, it's very critical to understand entire landscape of the system before defining the architecture. Must collaborate with all the key stake holders from Business users to all relevant cross functional teams and concise the requirements. Identify the system integrations/ interfaces, third party applications, embed scalability for future plans. Next process it to build effective Architectural Diagrams, prepare the required artifacts, conduct regular Architectural Review Meetings with Customer, ARB and other stake holders for the sign-off. Take help of best available tools like Enterprise Architect, Archi, icePanel etc for your architecture designs.

WBS - is key strategy in the project planning and execution. When it comes to Architect, the roles must identify the granular sub-components in every delivery product of all the business functions. For eg: If the product is for digital survey on banking solution, then WBS must define all technical deliverables and tasks with minimal or zero dependency for the development on other deliverable or task to ensure the project is best fit with Safe Agile framework in the execution phase. This eases the planning, scheduling, resource allocation and project execution. Always use best tools that suites your scale and dynamics from the market like Zoho or Microsoft Dynamics,Trillo, Monday etc.

Incorporating agile methods in program management ensures adaptability to evolving project needs. Utilizing frameworks like Scrum or Kanban promotes iterative development, delivering tangible results in short cycles. Embracing practices such as daily stand-ups fosters collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement. This approach empowers teams to navigate complexities, respond to feedback, and effectively manage risks for successful program outcomes.

Nevertheless, SafeAgile is one of the industry's best framework that fits for majority of the project. Several major features and comprehensive process helps to track and mitigate risks at ease with proactive approach from the architecture design to project execution. For a smooth project design or delivery, regular review on the deliverables and sign-off from the customer and other stake holders is most critical to avoid the risks, delay and escalations. Use best market available tools with best automation features like Jira, Zoho, ServieNow, Rally etc..

While this is another critical phase, which is actually testimony for the organization or service provider's credibility on the quality of delivery. In my experience, few critical aspects are: 1. Build wide range of test cases and test scenarios, no reason to excuse any change or new build. 2. Ensure every aspect of business function from prompt on UI to mission critical process has covered in test cases. 3. Review with business users and SMEs, double check if the test cases covers the custom process and other critical business scenarios and processes are tracked in the test cases. 4. Train business users on the changes in the business functionality, process and the system functionality as applicable and sync them in test cases review

As per the architecture standards, Architect or the concerned PM has to identify all the system or application integrations and other visible dependencies thoroughly in the discovery phase. Essentially Integrations, inbound/outbound interfaces, hook applications, external tools, network components, special integrated products like barcode/scan system, IoT devices and other dependent components must be listed, without which application architecture would never be complete. Project team must detail all these dependencies and integrations in the relevant artifacts helpful during migrations and future reference.