What are the most important feedback loops for System Architecture professionals?

System architecture is the design and organization of complex systems, such as software, hardware, networks, or organizations. System architecture professionals are responsible for creating, maintaining, and improving the system architecture to meet the requirements, constraints, and goals of the stakeholders. To do this effectively, they need to use feedback loops, which are mechanisms that allow them to monitor, evaluate, and adjust the system architecture based on the inputs and outputs of the system. In this article, we will explore some of the most important feedback loops for system architecture professionals and how they can use them to improve their work.

1 Requirements feedback loop

The requirements feedback loop is the process of eliciting, analyzing, validating, and managing the requirements of the system. This feedback loop involves communicating with the stakeholders, such as clients, users, developers, or regulators, to understand their needs, expectations, and preferences. The system architecture professionals then translate these requirements into specifications, models, or prototypes that describe the system architecture. The feedback loop also involves verifying and validating that the system architecture meets the requirements and resolving any conflicts or ambiguities that may arise.

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Ariel Oz

CTO @ Aman Group
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Effective feedback loops are vital for system architecture professionals to ensure the alignment of design and implementation with desired goals and requirements. The requirements feedback loop focuses on regular validation and adaptation to stakeholder specifications. Stakeholder engagement, facilitated through meetings and demonstrations, provides crucial input for refining design decisions and features. Prototyping and proof-of-concept iterations validate the feasibility of key components, while testing and quality assurance feedback loops address defects and enhance system robustness.

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2 Design feedback loop

The design feedback loop is the process of creating, testing, and refining the design of the system architecture. This feedback loop involves applying the principles, patterns, and best practices of system architecture to create a coherent, consistent, and scalable design that satisfies the requirements and constraints of the system. The system architecture professionals then test the design using various methods, such as simulations, reviews, or experiments, to evaluate its performance, functionality, reliability, security, or usability. The feedback loop also involves refining the design based on the test results and feedback from the stakeholders or peers.

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3 Implementation feedback loop

The implementation feedback loop is the process of developing, deploying, and operating the system architecture. This feedback loop involves coding, integrating, and configuring the components and modules of the system architecture using the appropriate tools, languages, and frameworks. The system architecture professionals then deploy the system architecture to the target environment, such as a server, a cloud, or a device, and operate it according to the specifications and standards. The feedback loop also involves monitoring, debugging, and troubleshooting the system architecture to ensure its quality, efficiency, and availability.

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Giuseppe Sanero

✨Independent IT Consultant & IT Architect | 🏆50+ Top Voice in Computer Science | 🍄Mycologist no. 3359 of the Italian Register | 🌍Bureaucrat of Wikipedia in Piedmontese
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Feedback loops are crucial for systems architecture professionals, allowing them to continually evaluate their work and adapt their practices in response to needs and challenges that emerge in the system design and implementation process. The feedback received during the implementation phase is very important. Feedback received from development team members, including software engineers, analysts, testers, and other professionals involved in the system development process, can help identify technical problems, identify possible improvements, and evaluate the effectiveness of architectural decisions. Analyzing and managing feedback from the development team is therefore very important in order to improve the architecture.

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4 Evolution feedback loop

The evolution feedback loop is the process of maintaining, updating, and improving the system architecture. This feedback loop involves assessing the current state and performance of the system architecture and identifying the areas that need improvement or change. The system architecture professionals then plan and execute the changes to the system architecture, such as adding new features, fixing bugs, or optimizing resources. The feedback loop also involves evaluating the impact and outcome of the changes and ensuring that they align with the goals and expectations of the stakeholders.

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Mayank Madhukar

Solutions Architect at AB InBev
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Evolution feedback loops drive continuous system improvement by integrating multiple feedback mechanisms. Key loops include: - Performance Loop: Involves using performance metrics collected through logs and user analytics to optimize reliability, efficiency, and resource utilization. - Security Loop: Using audits, scans, and Pen testing to enhance security and address vulnerabilities. This Strengthen the system's security posture and proactively address potential risks. System architects leverage these loops to: - Develop resilient systems that adapt to change. - Meet evolving user, business, and technology needs. - Foster continuous improvement and innovation

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5 Learning feedback loop

The learning feedback loop is the process of acquiring, applying, and sharing the knowledge and skills related to system architecture. This feedback loop involves exploring the latest trends, technologies, and techniques in system architecture and learning how to use them effectively. The system architecture professionals then apply their learning to their work and projects and measure their progress and performance. The feedback loop also involves sharing their learning with others, such as colleagues, mentors, or communities, and receiving feedback and guidance from them.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Mayank Madhukar

Solutions Architect at AB InBev
(edited)
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An architect's job transcends the realm of design and implementation, extending into crucial post-implementation feedback loops. One such loop is the Operational Feedback, where insights from op teams refine deployment processes, swiftly address issues, and enhance system reliability. Another vital aspect is the Adaptation Feedback Loop, pivotal in aligning system architecture with evolving business needs, industry trends, and emerging technologies. Employing feedback surveys, A/B testing, and log analytics facilitates the collection of inputs. Effectively harnessing these loops positions system architects as perpetual frontrunners, ensuring continuous evolution and improvement, ultimately keeping them at the forefront of their trade.

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Volodymyr Pavlyshyn

Principal Full-Stack Trust Builder/ Architect | SSI | personal AI | privacy first | Personal Knowledge Graphs | local first | architecture
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the event this article is a bit sliced to watterfolish view on system architecture. on practice you need to run in parallel few streams - requirements and problem definition with potential evaluation of future evolution, design and tech visibility. Create a virtual teams that halp you to run work packages of this streams . Do not build architecture in waterfall - fail fast , learn fast

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What are the most important feedback loops for System Architecture professionals?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Requirements feedback loop

2 Design feedback loop

3 Implementation feedback loop

4 Evolution feedback loop

5 Learning feedback loop

6 Here’s what else to consider

System Architecture

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What are the most important feedback loops for System Architecture professionals?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Requirements feedback loop

2 Design feedback loop

3 Implementation feedback loop

4 Evolution feedback loop

5 Learning feedback loop

6 Here’s what else to consider

System Architecture

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