Define Architecture Principles
Set guidelines to develop the architecture
Architecture Principles define the constraints your architecture must deal with. Their purpose is to serve as guidelines you need to consider when developing the architecture.
Within the the Discover Phase, defining Architecture Principles normally happens at the start of the business domain of Enterprise Architecture, after performing Design Thinking activities.
GOAL
Set Up Guidance for the Architecture
PARTICIPANTS
Architects
TIME NEEDED
30 - 60 minutes
PHASE
Discover
Before You Start
- Align with your Corporate Guidelines
- To create Architecture Principles, it is necessary to have the “Statement of Architecture Work” (from the Explore Phase) and the corporate guidelines of your company.
Materials you will need
Templates for Download
Identify constraints
Identify the constraints you need to take into consideration while developing the architecture.
As you do not want to simply copy and paste all principles that have been defined before, identify the principles that are relevant for your architectural work. For this evaluation, you take the filled in Statement of Architecture Work and its defined scope into consideration.
Understand the business benefits
Understand the business benefits when following the architecture principles.
Outline the impact
Outline the impact of following the principles in your architecture development.
See Completed Example
Mark pain points and moments of truth
Highlight the pain points and moments of truth for later reference.
You're done!
Use the Architecture Principles as input for the Risk Analysis.