software planning

A Software Architecture Strategy is a software planning strategy that establishes architectural design principles, architectural pattern selections, and architectural evolution roadmaps for software system development initiatives.

• AKA: Architecture Strategy, System Architecture Plan, Technical Architecture Strategy, Architecture Planning Strategy, System Design Strategy.
• Context:
  • It can typically define Architecture Design Principles through quality attribute priorities and constraint specifications.
  • It can typically establish Architecture Pattern Selections based on system requirements and technology capabilities.
  • It can typically guide Architecture Evolution Roadmaps with transformation milestones and modernization paths.
  • It can typically align Architecture Technology Choices with business objectives and technical constraints.
  • It can often specify Architecture Governance Processes including review boards and compliance checkpoints.
  • It can often document Architecture Risk Mitigation Strategies for technical debt and obsolescence threats.
  • It can often provide Architecture Decision Frameworks supporting consistent design choices.
  • It can range from being a Conservative Software Architecture Strategy to being an Innovative Software Architecture Strategy, depending on its technology adoption stance.
  • It can range from being a Monolithic Software Architecture Strategy to being a Distributed Software Architecture Strategy, depending on its system topology.
  • It can range from being a Tactical Software Architecture Strategy to being a Strategic Software Architecture Strategy, depending on its planning horizon.
  • It can range from being a Rigid Software Architecture Strategy to being an Adaptive Software Architecture Strategy, depending on its change flexibility.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Architectural-Style Software Architecture Strategies, such as:
    • Microservices Architecture Strategy decomposing monolithic systems.
    • Event-Driven Architecture Strategy enabling reactive systems.
    • Service-Oriented Architecture Strategy promoting service reusability.
  • Technology-Focused Architecture Strategies, such as:
    • Cloud-Native Architecture Strategy leveraging platform services.
    • AI-First Architecture Strategy embedding intelligence capabilities.
    • API-Centric Architecture Strategy exposing business capabilities.
  • Organization-Type Architecture Strategies, such as:
    • Enterprise Architecture Strategy aligning IT with business.
    • Startup Architecture Strategy enabling rapid iterations.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Implementation Plan, which details execution steps rather than architectural strategies.
  • Coding Standard, which specifies programming practices rather than architecture principles.
  • Project Plan, which schedules activities rather than defining architectural directions.
• See: Framework Strategy, Software System Architecture, Software Architecture Design Document, VMOST Strategy Analysis Framework, Competitive Strategy, Data Strategy, Software Architecture Policy, Architecture Decision Record, Event-Driven Architecture.

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