Architecture Frameworks: Why Architects Need Checklists

Architecture frameworks help architects use a consistent approach, speak a common language and address important questions before making major decisions. This Short from Go Cloud Architects explains why that structure matters when planning the future of a complex organization. In this excerpt from a longer video, Mike Gibbs starts with a deceptively simple question: where should the organization be three years from now? Answering it requires careful consideration. If every architect approaches the problem differently, important details can be missed along the way. A framework gives architects a shared approach and common terminology. It can also help identify which stakeholders need to participate and remind the team of questions that should be answered before committing to an architecture decision. The clip compares this support to a sophisticated checklist, using pilots and surgeons as familiar examples. The purpose is to support capable professionals working in complex environments. A consistent process helps them consider important issues even when the problem has many moving parts. For enterprise architects, cloud architects and technology professionals developing architecture skills, the takeaway is to use frameworks to support disciplined thinking. Keep business needs visible, involve the appropriate stakeholders and establish a shared vocabulary before moving into technology choices. Subscribe to Go Cloud Architects for enterprise architecture, architecture frameworks and business-focused decision-making. Which question would you want your architecture process to surface before a major decision? Consider how a shared approach could help your team avoid overlooking that question.