Strategic Thinking Meets Execution
Enterprise architecture (EA) acts like a roadmap. It helps companies and organizations create systems that can grow and sustain themselves as the business expands. But, the journey from the first idea to robust systems isn’t usually a smooth one. This is where I give you a behind-the-scenes look. I share how I turn a software concept into a scalable and durable system.
Design Philosophy
I believe enterprise systems should go beyond just being functional; they need to be smart, resilient, and have a clear purpose. My strategy makes sure that every infrastructure choice benefits both the business and the people who depend on it. There are various design philosophies out there. When I start a new software project, I look at the specific design that fits best to enhance the system’s efficiency, maintainability, and scalability.
My approach to structuring and functioning a software system is two-fold:
- Start with Why.
It’s crucial to grasp the reasoning behind an architectural choice in relation to the organization’s long-term objectives. - Remember Who, What, When, Where, and How.
Every architectural choice should be deliberate, clear, and adaptable to change (consider trade-offs and future growth).
To that end, I keep a clear record of decisions using Architectural Decision Records (ADRs) to document and share the choices based on:
- Business-driven architecture: tech choices that are influenced by business outcomes (directly support objectives)
- Standardization and interoperability: rules to guarantee systems can easily integrate and share data securely without extensive workarounds
- Security and compliance: security should be integrated into the architecture from the beginning
- Scalability and future-proofing: capable of managing increased demand and adapting to new business needs
- Data as the most important asset: ensure information flows smoothly across departments without getting lost
- Technology agnostic: make choices without being locked into a specific vendor or solution, encouraging flexibility and adaptability
- Modular and reusable components: system parts can be reused, swapped out, or upgraded as necessary without causing disruptions
- Automation and workflow efficiency: automation is part of the design, allowing users to complete tasks without wasting time or resources
- User-centric Design: understanding how people interact with these tools and customizing them to meet their needs, rather than the other way around
“I don’t just design software; I architect systems that can grow and handle failures gracefully. “
Architecture Breakdown
I’ve dealt with both Monolithic and Distributed Architectures. In every instance, I used methods that helped the systems grow and adapt. There are tons of software architecture patterns out there. Here’s a glimpse of some that I’ve worked with before.
Styles
Layered Software Architecture: This approach organizes a system into horizontal layers, each with its own specific responsibilities. Often referred to as n-tier architecture, it’s one of the most popular methods, especially in web applications and enterprise systems.
Microservices: This method breaks down an application into smaller services that work together to form a larger application.
Event-Driven Architecture: This architecture relies on events to initiate and facilitate communication between services.
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): This framework offers services to other components via clearly defined interfaces.
Patterns
The hub and spoke pattern works well for big distributed networks, helping to balance centralized control with the freedom of different domains, like in travel services.
The layered pattern is ideal for e-commerce, desktop applications, and other scenarios where tasks need to be executed in a specific sequence.
The model-view-controller (MVC) pattern breaks an application down into three parts: the model (which handles data and functionality), the view (the user interface), and the controller (which manages user input).
The sharding pattern divides data within a database to enhance the speed of commands or queries, ensuring that storage is evenly utilized across different instances.
Design Principles
Modularity: Components can change without disrupting the entire technical ecosystem
Async Workflows: Systems operate simultaneously rather than in a sequential manner
Ethical Controls: Safeguards like privacy and security are integrated into the design from the start, not added later
Clear and Concise Documentation: This ensures the next architect can continue from where I left off, without any confusion
Architectural Guidelines
I have a lot of respect for the frameworks like TOGAF and Zachman, but I’ve opted out of formal certification. My main goal has always been to create practical, context-sensitive architecture that meets the needs of the organization. Throughout the years, I’ve developed and documented enterprise artifacts that align with frameworks while also being customized to fit the specific needs and maturity of each business. My focus is on ethical design, long-term sustainability, and clear communication with stakeholders, often exceeding the standards set by typical frameworks. However, I keep up with their methods and apply relevant principles when they enhance value. For me, certification doesn’t define skill; it’s all about the impact, flexibility, and integrity.
Ethical Guidelines and principles for AI Design
Ethical AI isn’t just a box to tick; it’s a commitment. Here are the principles I stick to when creating smart systems that prioritize people over mere business objectives.
- Transparency: Articles produced by AI should make it obvious that the content is generated by AI.
- Accountability: Own up to any biases, mistakes, or unforeseen outcomes.
- Fairness: Make a conscious effort to spot and reduce biases to prevent discrimination.
- Human-centered design: Create systems that enhance human abilities rather than replace them.
- Privacy: Establish robust privacy measures to protect user data and stop unauthorized access or misuse.