¿Cómo optimiza su trabajo con activos de arquitectura reutilizables?

Unlocking the alchemy of efficiency lies in harnessing reusable architecture assets, the unsung heroes of productivity. Imagine them as your digital comrades, battle-tested tools and patterns crafted to transcend one project and illuminate the path for many. These assets aren't just code snippets; they're the wizards streamlining your work, distilling complexity into elegance. They're the Swiss Army knives of architecture, adapting seamlessly to diverse challenges. As you wield these assets, it's not just about cutting-edge tech; it's about crafting a legacy of ingenuity. So, don your digital cape, embrace these assets with a sense of camaraderie, and let them be your accomplice in architecting the future.

Reusable architecture assets are the foundational piece of the organisation that helps accelerate the speed to market the solutions that meet the business requirements. The assets include reusable templates, guidelines, architecture principles, standards, patterns, architecture blueprints, solution architecture processes and pre-requisites that are required for architecture decisions. The architecture council that represents the relevant domain architecture is essential for the organisation as it improves the governance and control for the solution and decisions. The IT strategy and Technology Roadmap provides further direction to foster innovation and development towards the target state.

Pattern discovery and HLD/LLD are the most important artefacts to be identified and created , which provides a healthy base to build upon. Architecture Guardrails is another key aspect which one should adhere to while creating artefacts. Reference to an already existing artefact at the global level, adherence to it and development of anti-patterns challenging and developing better versions of these artefacts in line with the Business and EA vision will guide a good reusability culture.

From value stream mapping to design thinking of key business journeys to service blueprinting - all modern architecture processes have frameworks, deliverable archetypes.

Some key points for meaningful creation and use of reusable architecture assets: 1. Everyone in the organization should blend into the culture of improving productivity, avoiding waste and harnessing reusable assets. These are inter-related. 2. We know reusable architecture assets can help improve productivity, avoid wasting time on re-inventing the wheel. 3. Improvement in productivity can be achieved only if this is done meaningfully. Ex: Consider we have a re-usable asset harnessed from Project A and deposited in the Asset Library. Project B looks at the Library and plans to reuse the asset. Typically the component should reduce effort, but it was not documented with the relevant details, the effort can be greater than anticipated.

Architecture repository is the key. It should be referred before starting any new architecture work and building new solution. Referring to this repository will help the architects identifying existing building blocks to be reused.

Identifying reusable architecture resources involves recognizing elements that can be repurposed or adapted to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

40% of the designs can be edited and re-used, especially on the technology stack, architecture style, design pattern, and integration approach. Have all the architecture efforts, designs, and frameworks in the common repository which helps in identifying the right assets for the solutions

That is an interesting viewpoint. I would invert it and ask: how do we identify and reduce non-reusable architecture assets. If we develop our architecture from patterns, frameworks, reference models, components and building blocks, then we build reuse into the foundation, and the exceptions will be the few non-reusable artefacts. With good architecture practise (ADM), these exceptions should be few, and hopefully, transient.

Leveraging EAM tools, even Open Source ones like Archi, ensure all elements of an enterprise architecture maintain relationships outside a single view. Relationships between applications, capabilities, services, etc. help realize the impact of changes to every element across an organization.

By having the background of the project, context, scope, application, system, and network architecture with assumptions, risks, constraints, and dependencies.

When identifying potential reusable architecture assets, it's essential to create them in a way that ensures they are easily accessible, understandable, and applicable. The choice of format and tools should align with the type and purpose of the asset. For example, you can utilize diagrams, models, documents, code snippets, or frameworks to represent the asset's structure, behavior, or implementation. In addition, document crucial information such as the asset's context, scope, assumptions, dependencies, and constraints, as well as the benefits, risks, and trade-offs associated with its use. This comprehensive approach ensures that your architecture assets are valuable and user-friendly.

In my opinion, when you design your solution architecture reusable assets play a crucial role for standard design across the organisation and ease of implementation. Reusable assets should be defined well and management should be centralised. Also any new addition and update to reusable assets should be reviewed properly. For the identification part of reusable assets, that should be part of the solution design checklist and included in the design lifecycle. Overall a well managed catalogue of reusable assets not only improve your solution designs but also speed up design deliveries and standardized design.

Creating reusable architecture assets involves developing them in formats that ensure easy access, comprehension, and application. Depending on the nature of the asset, you can utilize diagrams, models, documents, code snippets, or frameworks to capture its structure, behavior, or implementation details. It's crucial to also document the context, scope, assumptions, dependencies, and constraints of each asset to clarify its intended use. Additionally, outlining the benefits, risks, and trade-offs offers guidance on effectively employing these assets. By doing so, you not only facilitate seamless integration across various projects but also enhance the asset's value in driving efficient and coherent architectural solutions.

An architecture board to be formed with experienced architects within the organization as a starting point. Collect all the work and start by putting conceptual technology models into high/low-level designs. Make a common repo to store all the process documents, governance models with version control, and history of the assets. Getting continuous feedback and evaluating the value and impact of the each asset

Reusable architecture assets can be better managed in many ways. One of the option below 1) Create a Reusable Software Catalog i.e. design a centralized repository for architecture assets. 2) To create this centralized repository use Platform like Backstage.io 3) Backstage.io is powered by a centralized software catalog, Backstage restores order to your infrastructure, assets, templates, ML modals, APIs, components, Arch blueprints etc. and enables your product teams to ship high-quality code quickly — without compromising autonomy.

I make sure that I am not using reusable assets as an excuse to be lazy and not be innovative. One needs to be very careful to strike the right balance between what can be reused and what should always be thought of uniquely for different situations. Not all customers have the same problem, and not all designs need to be similar.

As per my experience in the telecom software industry from OSS solution delivery, leveraging reusable architecture assets is pivotal. This includes standardized solution packages for different ranges of customer loads, automated configuration templates, code libraries for common functionalities, troubleshooting guides, API integration modules, and documentation templates. These assets enhance efficiency, consistency, and accelerate our telecom solution development.

Além de me ajudarem a entender e estudar melhor certos padrões de mercado, alguns ativos podem ser muito úteis em demonstrações e na construção de um MVP no início de um projeto. Com algo mais "tangível", fica mais fácil entender as necessidades do cliente e quais fatores não são necessários para a entrega final a ele.

I think improving reusable architecture assets is a continuous, evolutionary process, guided by feedback, performance metrics, and industry trends. This involves regularly refining assets to ensure their effectiveness. Collaboration and sharing insights with peers enhance these assets, leveraging collective wisdom. Each project offers new learnings, challenges, and opportunities to broaden the application and efficiency of our assets. The key is to learn from each application, laying a path of improvement to increase their value over time.

A good habit of documentation during both the solution design and implementation can help create valuable resources for generating reusable architecture assets.

Solution architecture transcends mere asset creation and management, embodying collaboration, security, and compliance. Involving team members throughout the asset lifecycle enriches the repository and fosters a culture of shared ownership and continuous improvement. Adherence to the highest standards of security and compliance is essential, ensuring assets remain current with regulatory changes. Equipping teams with the knowledge to effectively utilize these assets through targeted training, and implementing governance mechanisms, guarantees their integrity and effectiveness, laying solid foundations for future architectures.

Collaboration: Foster collaboration among your team members by involving them in the creation and improvement of reusable assets. Security and Compliance: Ensure that your assets adhere to security and compliance standards, and keep them updated as regulations change. Training: Provide training to your team on how to effectively use and contribute to the reusable assets repository. Governance: Establish governance processes to control access to and changes in your reusable architecture assets. By following these steps, you can effectively streamline your work as a solution architect and maximize the benefits of reusable architecture assets, ultimately improving efficiency and the quality of your solutions.

Integrate reusable assets into CI/CD pipelines to automate testing, integration, and deployment processes. Ensure compatibility with automated testing frameworks, build systems, and deployment tools. Stay abreast of technological trends and advancements to evolve reusable assets accordingly.