Building a modern IT architecture with Lego bricks

Building a modern IT architecture with Lego bricks

If you have ever played with Lego bricks, you know how fun and creative it can be to build anything you can imagine. But did you also know that Lego bricks can teach us some valuable lessons about modern IT architecture? This weekend as I was going into memory lane while playing with Lego for adults, it struck me how many analogiesI could find. In this article, we will explore some of the best practices for designing and implementing a modern IT architecture using Lego bricks as an analogy.

Choose the right model for your architecture function

One of the first decisions you need to make when building a Lego model is whether you want to follow the instructions that come with the set or create your own design from scratch. Similarly, when designing your IT architecture function, you need to choose between a central or a federated model.

A central model means that you have a dedicated team of architects who define and enforce the standards and guidelines for the entire organization. This can ensure consistency, efficiency and compliance, but it can also create silos, bottlenecks and resistance from agile teams who want more autonomy and flexibility.

A federated model means that you distribute the architecture function across different teams and domains, empowering them to make their own decisions and solve their own problems. This can foster innovation, collaboration and agility, but it can also lead to duplication, fragmentation and complexity.

According to McKinsey & Company(1), the optimal model for the IT architecture function in an agile enterprise is a federated one, where architects act as coaches, facilitators and enablers rather than controllers or gatekeepers. They provide guidance, support and alignment, but also respect the autonomy and creativity of agile teams.

Use modern platforms, practices and tools to build software at speed and scale

Another decision you need to make when building a Lego model is what kind of bricks and pieces you want to use. You can choose from different sizes, shapes, colors and functions, depending on what you want to achieve. Similarly, when building software, you need to choose the right technologies for your teams to deliver new digital products and experiences.

According to Gartner(2), software engineering leaders must equip their teams with the latest platforms, practices and tools to build software at speed and scale. Some of the key trends and technologies they recommend include:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), which can help automate tasks, optimize processes, generate insights and enhance user experiences.
• Low-code automation, which can enable faster development, deployment and integration of applications with minimal coding.
• New stacks and frameworks, such as microservices, serverless computing, containers and cloud-native architectures, which can improve scalability, resilience, security and automation.

Adopt continuous modernization practices to keep your architecture relevant and adaptable

One of the challenges of building a Lego model is that it can become outdated or irrelevant over time. You may want to change or improve some parts of it, or even start over with a new design. Similarly, one of the challenges of maintaining an IT architecture is that it can become obsolete or misaligned with the business needs over time. You may need to update or replace some components of it, or even rethink your entire architecture strategy.

According to McKinsey & Company(3), software engineering leaders should adopt continuous modernization practices to keep their architecture relevant and adaptable. Some of the key actions they suggest include:

• Revising migration and modernization priorities while managing technical debt
• Upskilling teams in architecture patterns and practices
• Establishing innovation teams to experiment with new technologies and architectural models

Conclusion

Building a modern IT architecture is like building a Lego model. You need to choose the right model for your architecture function, use modern platforms, practices and tools to build software at speed and scale, and adopt continuous modernization practices to keep your architecture relevant and adaptable. By following these best practices, you can create a flexible, scalable and innovative IT architecture that supports your business goals and delivers value to your customers.

1: Crafting the optimal model for the IT architecture organization | McKinsey & Company

2: Best Practices for Modernizing Application Architecture and Technologies | Gartner

3: Enterprise-architecture best practices for digital transformation | McKinsey & Company