Criteria for When to Engage Architecture
This can apply to all aspects of architecture engagement including Architecture Assurance, Projects, Strategy, etc.
Complexity:
Complexity:
- Involves or impacts a broad cross-section of the company
Alignment:
Alignment:
- Alignment to Customer Experience and / or Branding
- Presents a significant opportunity to drive convergence to the Target Architecture
- Presents a significant opportunity to drive collaboration on new solutions
- Presents a significant opportunity to leverage existing solutions
- Changes existing strategy; deviates from existing strategy and / or architecture principles; introduces new strategy
Risk:
Risk:
- Significant financial investment (>$500K USD)
- Introduces significant new technology or new features
- Significantly extends the use of a non-strategic or outdated technology
- Significantly impacts core shared infrastructure or applications
- Negatively impacts drive to Target Architecture
Operating Model for Enterprise Architecture Engagement
Operating Model for Enterprise Architecture Engagement
- Partner with the PMO
Guidance / education needs to be accomplished at the PM level. Ensure that Architecture Assurance processes are a part of the methodology.
- Establish Target / Reference Architectures to assess against
- Establish and leverage a few important Target, Reference architectures that can be used during the engagement including architecture non-functional requirements.
- Leverage existing architecture deliverable documents
- During an architecture review use existing deliverables from the project to have the conversation. Additional paperwork to fill out should not be expected. Architecture deliverables need to be a part of the project so it is more of a review than an additional burden (in-process vs. out of process).
- Capture and communicate key decisions
- Maintain a running list of architecture key decisions that have been made. At a minimum capture the decision that are made from the architecture assurance meeting and publish it on the architecture web page.
From CEB’s Business-Driven Enterprise Architecture