How can you balance short-term and long-term considerations in architectural decision making?

1 Understand the problem and the context

Before you start making any architectural decisions, you need to have a clear understanding of the problem you are trying to solve, the context you are working in, and the goals and constraints of your stakeholders. This will help you define the scope, quality attributes, and trade-offs of your system, as well as the assumptions and risks involved. You can use techniques such as stakeholder analysis, problem framing, and context mapping to gather and organize this information.

3 Choose the best option and document the rationale

After you have evaluated the alternatives and the consequences, you can choose the best option that meets your criteria and trade-offs. You should also document the rationale behind your choice, explaining why you selected this option, how it addresses the problem and the context, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of this option. You can use formats such as architectural decision records (ADRs), decision logs, or decision views to capture and communicate this rationale.

4 Review and validate the decision

Before you implement the chosen option, you should review and validate the decision with your stakeholders, peers, and experts. You should also test the feasibility and viability of the option, using techniques such as proof of concept, simulation, or experimentation. This will help you verify that the option meets the requirements and expectations, as well as identify any issues or gaps that need to be resolved or mitigated.

5 Monitor and update the decision

After you implement the chosen option, you should monitor and update the decision as the system evolves and the context changes. You should collect and analyze feedback, metrics, and data to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the option, as well as to detect any problems or opportunities for improvement. You should also review and revise the decision periodically, using methods such as retrospectives, audits, or reviews. This will help you ensure that the decision remains relevant, appropriate, and aligned with the goals and constraints of your system.

6 Document and share the decision

Finally, you should document and share the decision with your team, organization, and other stakeholders. You should use clear, consistent, and concise language and diagrams to describe the option, the rationale, and the outcomes of the decision. You should also use appropriate channels and formats to communicate and disseminate the decision, such as wikis, blogs, or presentations. This will help you increase the visibility, transparency, and traceability of the decision, as well as to foster collaboration, learning, and reuse of the decision.

7 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?