Thoughtworks Technology Podcast Who should make software architecture decisions?
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Dec 26, 2024 Andrew Harmel-Law, a tech principal from London and author of "Facilitating Software Architecture," discusses the importance of diverse participation in architectural decision-making. He argues that a broader involvement leads to richer insights and better outcomes. The conversation highlights the need for trust and engagement among stakeholders, the risks of technology attachment, and how to navigate them. Andrew stresses that embracing varied perspectives can drive cultural shifts in organizations, ultimately enhancing the architectural process.
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Unplanned Book
- Andrew Harmel-Law didn't initially plan to write this book.
- It evolved from a blog post after various client experiments, especially during COVID, revealed valuable socio-technical lessons.
Advice Process and Transparency
- The core practice is an advice process: anyone can make a decision if they seek advice from impacted parties and experts.
- Transparent decision capture, like ADRs, is crucial for trust and avoiding chaos.
Client Experiences
- At Zappo Bank, decentralization was already ingrained in their DNA, simplifying the implementation of the advice process.
- Other clients used it for smaller refactorings, limiting the scope of decisions to avoid wider impact.