the agile architect - camug - oct 1, 2015

1© 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYC

what is the role of an architect in an agile

organization?

The Agile Architect / October 2015

Information | Analytics | Expertise

© 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYC

Chris Edwards P.Eng., Senior [email protected] @AgileChrisYYC

THE AGILE ARCHITECT

Our Experience in Discovering a Successful Pattern

OCTOBER 2015

mailto:[email protected]

© 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYC 3

ArchitectureApproach 1:Laissez Faire




empowerment is morethan just taking yourhands off the wheel



how do we incorporatean architect…

without sacrificing agile values?


Wanted to avoid this:The Agile Architect / October 2015

Requirements

Design

Code

Test

Deploy


And this:The Agile Architect / October 2015

cliparthut.com


ArchitectureApproach 2:The Architecture Scout




Architecture by Example

”“



what if thearchitect isWRONG?



how do you knowif the architect

is WRONG?



I thought you knewsomething I didn’t

”“

© 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYC


xkcd.com



architect is a leadership role



Image Source: worklifematters.netSpotify Engineering Videos



how do I serve the teams without telling

them what to do?


Intent Based Leadership


Rob van Hilten, Flickr



Don’t move information to authority,

move authority to the information

”“David Marquet



These are the two pillars that need to be in place: the technical competence …. and organization clarity.

And you put those things in place and then you can give control.

”“

David Marquet



i intend to…


ArchitectureApproach 3:The Architecture Coach





Daily Design Meeting • 30 minutes

• Technical lead from each team

• Discuss challenges that being encountered

• Exercise is repeated on the team that brought the challenge



questionscommunicate

values



Resist the urge to provide solutions.

”“David Marquet



letting go is hard



organizations which design systems ... are constrained to

produce designs which are copies of the communication

structures of these organizations

”“

M. Conway


ArchitectureApproach 3:The Architecture Coach


Rob van Hilten, FlickrCoaching Agile Teams, Lyssa Adkins


Focus on InterestsRather than Positions





Design Steps • What is the problem you’re trying to solve?

• What solutions should we consider?

• What are the pros/cons of each solution?



create a common frameworkfor resolving conflict



disagreement is amechanism for

organizational clarity



the end?



something interestinghappened



?



do we still need an architect?


Final Architecture Approach:Architecting as a Team


Steve Jurvetson, Flickr



Summary • Empowerment is more than standing back

• Lead through intent

• Resist the urge to provide solutions

• Build relationships between teams

• Create a framework for disagreement

• Disagreement is a mechanism for organizational clarity



leadership skills are vital to an architect’s

success


Questions? Chris Edwards

[email protected]

@AgileChrisYYC


mailto:[email protected]

the agile architect - camug - oct 1, 2015

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