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Solution Architecture Mastery: Theory and Practice

Learn how to lead the architecture for complex solutions, so that they are fit-for-context, meet functional & quality requirements, and are able to evolve & adapt to changing needs.
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Why this course?

  • Software architecture is the backbone of successful digital systems and solutions. This advanced-level course covers a comprehensive set of advanced topics. It will teach you how to think like an architect in the context of complex solutions and organisations, helping you ​to advance your career into a architecture lead role.

  • Learn how to design fit for purpose Minimum Viable Architectures (MVA) for complex solutions that meet known requirements, as wells as being able withstand unexpected stressors and adapt to change.

  • Lead your (and the broader) team deliver high-quality digital solutions for your customers & stakeholders, meeting both functional needs and quality requirements.

  • Learn to lead stakeholders in exploring alternative design solutions and compare them in a way that facilitates constructive discussion.

  • Gain the confidence to make de-centralised high quality architectural decisions aligned with business and stakeholders' goals.

  • Learn theory & practical techniques, and receive direct feedback from an expert practitioner with 30+ hands-on years experience in the industry.

  • Critically analyse Architecture ​as a profession, its relevancy in the context of agile development and fast evolving technology landscape, understanding why it fails in some organisations, and how to prevent common pitfalls.

  • Discover any blind spots you may have in your capability, and how to address them.

  • On completion of this course, you will be able to tackle more complex topics in the Enterprise Architecture Fundamentals and Enterprise Architecture Mastery courses.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to demonstrates a recognised level of expertise and professionalism in architecting software systems and solutions by:

  • Lead a team in carrying out the essential steps in designing architectures for complex digital solutions in a large organisation.

  • Design complex architectures iteratively, starting with a Minimum Viable Architecture (MVA), and adopt an evolutionary approach to improve it over time.

  • Apply methods and principles for design, documentation and evaluation of architectures, independent of specific development processes.

  • Lead collaborative, de-centralised, and sustainable architecturally significant decisions.

  • Lead the evaluation and assessment of complex architectures.

  • Document and effectively communicate complex architectures, including architecturally significant decisions, to technical and business stakeholders.

Content

  • Fundamental concepts of Architecture, Architecting, and the role of the Architect: recall key terms and concepts in architecture

    • Definitions, Goals, Benefits 

    • Role and Responsibilities of Solution, Domain, and Enterprise Architects

    • Relate the Role of Architects to Other Stakeholders

    • Context, Concerns, Requirements and Constraints:  deepens participants' understanding of stakeholder concerns, requirements, and qualities of software architecture​

    • performing gap analysis

    • Design fit-for-context and fit-for-purpose Architectures

    • ​​Specification and Communication: enable participants to document and communicate architectures in a way that meets the needs of important stakeholders and supports the development process

    • ​Analysis and Assessment:  equip architects with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively perform architecture analysis​​

  • Designing and managing a fit-for-context architecting process

    • From accountability to stewardship

    • Just Enough Architecting

    • Stakeholder-Driven, Decision-Centric Architecting

    • From meta-architecture, to conceptual, logical, and physical

    • Architectural models, views, and viewpoints: who, when, why, where, and how.

  • Understanding and Prioritisation of Quality Attributes

    • Quality Models and ISO/IEC25010:2023

    • Architecture Quality in the context of Digital Ethics and Sustainability

    • Prioritisation of Quality Characteristics

    • Quality Trees and Concrete Quality Scenarios

    • Identify and Design for Cross-Cutting Concerns

    • Design Interfaces

  • Heuristics

    • Principles guiding the Design and Evolution of Architectures

    • SOLID and other Software Design Principles

    • Conway's Law and the Reverse Conway Manoeuvre

    • Architectural Styles

    • Architecture Patterns

    • Design Tactics

  • Architecturally Significant Decisions can be the hardest to make and most expensive to change 

    • Decision Making as a Cognitive Process

    • The Decision-Centric approach to Architecting: Plan --> Decide --> Communicate --> Assure --> Implement

    • Power, Influence, and Bias in Decision Making

    • Vertical vs. Horizontal Architectural Optimisation

    • Dealing with Inevitability of Incorrect Architectural Decisions

  • Business & Strategic Alignment, and Managing Architectural Debt

    • Architectural Alignment

    • Managing Architectural Debt

    • Just-in Time, Lean Governance

    • Architectural Reviews: approach, template, and success factors

  • Documenting Architecture, and keeping it up-to-date, can be a significant (and unaffordable) effort

    • Qualities of Architectural Documentation

    • Widely Adopted Traditional and Modern Modelling Languages (e.g. UML), Diagramming Approaches (e.g., C4), and Tools (e.g., Mermaid)

    • Qualities of Architecture Diagrams

    • Architecture Decision Records (ADR)

  • Fast-evolving Technologies Impacting Architectures and Architecting

    • Cloud

    • Monolithic vs Distributed Architectures (e.g., Microservices​​)

    • Platforms & Frameworks

    • Digital Ethics: Integrate Sustainability and Ethical Values in Architecture

  • Leveraging LLMs and AI agents for better and faster architecting

    • Definitions

    • Architecture as Code

    • Architecting Prompts & Tools

    • Architectural Governance and Alignment with AI 

  • An effective, efficient, and mature architecture capability can be a significant business asset

    • Good Architecting needs Skilled & Competent Individuals, Teams, and Organisations

    • Architecting Skills Taxonomy

    • Beyond Technical Skills: Develop Critical Interpersonal Skills for Architectural impact

    • Architectural Unicorns and Pioneers

    • Measuring Value of Architecture and Architecting

    • Managing & Growing Capability Maturity of Architecture and Architecting

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    Summary of Topics Covered and Key Takeaways

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Notes:

  • Throughout the course, the content is supported and complemented by real-world examples, and hands-on activities based on a case study.

  • The context of the course is typically adapted to the needs of participants.

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Target Audience

  • This course is primarily aimed at Software / Solution / Domain Architects, and is ideal for those with some architecture experience wanting to take their abilities to the next level.

  • This course can be also useful to professional actively working in software development, aspiring to transition into an architecture role

    • Product owners

    • Business Analysts

    • Requirements Engineers

    • QA Specialists

Prerequisites

  • You should have completed the Solution Architecture Fundamentals course before participating to this mastery course

  • Practical experience with architecture, gained through team-based development of several systems outside of formal education

  • Good knowledge of modelling, abstraction, algorithms and data structures 

  • Good Knowledge of and practical experience with at least one higher programming language

  • Good knowledge of approaches to testing of software (e.g. unit- and acceptance testing)

Duration and Format

  • This course is typically delivered over 3 full consecutive days, and can be combined with the Solution Architecture Fundamentals course.

  • The content and its structure can be tailored to meet the needs and level of  experience of participant groups.

  • The course is also offered as a 4-day residential course (inclusive of accommodation and half board) in Italian locations; this gives participants the opportunity to visit places of historical and cultural interest.

Price and Schedule

  • For pricing & schedule details, please enquire below

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Enquire or Register interest

Course / Workshop / Free Taster Session
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