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      Fundamentals of Architectural Thinking

      This course is for architects of all types (EA, solution architecture, technical architecture, etc.). It covers core architecture concepts: Architecture Principles, Stakeholders, Views & Viewpoints, Quality Attributes, Nonfunctional requirements, Tactics, Patterns, and Techniques.

      Course Outline

      CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

      • Introductions

      • Course Outline

      • Handouts & Appendices

      • Practical Application

      • Practical Application: Filling Your Toolbox

      • Course Evaluation & Questions

      • Course Delivery Overview


      CHAPTER 2 - ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW

      • Architecture

      • Architects

      • Importance of Architecture

      • Communications Vehicle Among Stakeholders

      • The Project is Organized Around Architectural Elements

      • What is a System?

      • Why Focus on Structure?

      • Solution Architecture Context

      • Solution Architecture & Domains

      • SA Spans All Domains

      • Relationship to EA Architecture Development Process

      • Solution Architecture

      • Solution Architecture Stakeholders

      • Solution Architecture Deliverables

      • EA Involvement in SA

      • Architecturally Significant

      • Architecturally Significant Elements

      • Group Discussion: Architecture

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 3 - CORE ARCHITECTURE METHODS

      • Shared Vision

      • Example Shared Vision

      • Draw the Boundary

      • Well-defined Interface

      • Example: Context Diagram

      • Identify the External Interfaces

      • Subsystems

      • Subsystem Context Diagram

      • Layers

      • Example: Subsystems with Layers

      • Components

      • Decomposing the System

      • Requirements Allocation

      • Group Discussion: Requirements Allocation

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 4 - STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

      • Stakeholders

      • Stakeholder Management

      • When to Focus on Stakeholder Management

      • Steps in the Stakeholder Management Process

      • Identifying Stakeholders

      • Points to Consider

      • Example Stakeholders & Concerns

      • Classifying Their Positions: The Stakeholder Matrix

      • Determining the Stakeholder Management Approach and Tailoring the Deliverables: The Stakeholder Map

      • Example: Stakeholder Map

      • Template: Stakeholder Map Matrix Template

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 5 - VIEWS & VIEWPOINTS

      • Views and Viewpoints

      • Views

      • Example View: Claim Handling from a Process Viewpoint

      • Example View: Claim Handling from a Data Viewpoint

      • Example View: Claim Handling Project from a Financial Viewpoint

      • Contents of Views and Viewpoints

      • Example Formal Viewpoint: Security

      • Software Architecture Viewpoints: 4+1

      • Group Discussion: Viewpoints

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 6 - ARCHITECTURE CONCEPTS

      • Fundamental Architecture Concepts

      • Abstraction

      • Coupling

      • Cohesion

      • Decomposition & Modularization

      • Encapsulation & Information Hiding

      • Separation of Interface & Implementation

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 7 - ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLES

      • Architecture Principles

      • Components of Principles

      • Qualities of a Good Set of Principles

      • EA Principles: Creation Process

      • Templates: Principle & Principle Catalog

      • Example: Architecture Principles

      • Sample: Architecture Principles

      • Group Discussion: Principles

      • Applying Architecture Principles

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 8 - ARCHITECTURE REQUIREMENTS

      • Architecture Quality Attributes

      • Quality of Service Requirement Categories

      • Checklist: Quality Attribute (QA) Categories

      • Trade-off Analysis

      • Group Discussion: Trade-offs

      • Technique: Requirement Patterns

      • Tool: Non-Functional Requirement Patterns

      • Checklist: Requirement Statement Best Practices

      • Technique: Architecture Change Cases

      • Template: Elements of a Change Case

      • Example: Change Case

      • Eliciting Change Cases

      • Group Discussion: Change Case

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 9 - ARCHITECTURE TACTICS

      • Tactics

      • Availability Tactics

      • Modifiability Tactics

      • Performance Tactics

      • Security Tactics

      • Testability Tactics

      • Usability Tactics

      • Approach for Describing Tactics

      • Group Discussion: Tactics

      • Pipes & Filters: Tactics

      • Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Tactics

      • Architectural Patterns and Corresponding Tactics for Modifiability

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 10 - PATTERNS

      • What are Patterns?

      • Elements of a Pattern

      • Pattern Levels

      • Pattern Types

      • How to Start Using Patterns?

      • Common Architectural Patterns

      • Layers Pattern

      • Example: Retail Layered Architecture

      • Object-Oriented Design Patterns

      • OO Design Patterns

      • Structural Design Pattern: Facade Pattern Example

      • Enterprise Integration Patterns

      • Messaging Systems: Overview

      • Example Pattern: Pipes and Filters

      • Example: Monitoring Credit Bureau

      • EAA Patterns

      • Model-View-Controller (MVC) Pattern

      • SOA Patterns

      • Example: Saga Pattern

      • Business Process Patterns

      • Example: Synchronizing Merge Pattern

      • Configuration Management Patterns

      • New Patterns Continue to Emerge

      • Group Discussion: Patterns

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 11 - PACKAGED SOFTWARE AND SAAS

      • Alternatives to Custom Development and Hosting

      • Open Source Software

      • Frameworks

      • Cloud Computing

      • Integration of Mixed Solutions

      • Implications for Architecture

      • Packaged Software Advantages & Disadvantages

      • SaaS Advantages and Disadvantages

      • Open Source Advantages and Disadvantages

      • Integration Strategies

      • The API Economy

      • COTS Implication: Accept Design Influence

      • COTS Implication: Plan for Stability

      • COTS Implication: Sustain Competency

      • COTS Implication: Vendor Lock-In

      • COTS Implication: Balance Business Needs & Architecture

      • COTS Inherent Risks

      • COTS Risk Management Strategy #1

      • COTS Risk Management Strategy #2

      • COTS Risk Management Strategy #3

      • Group Discussion: COTS

      • Typical COTS Architecture

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 12 - ARCHITECTURE TECHNIQUES

      • Progressive Filtering

      • Rubric

      • Example: Service Design Rubric

      • Example: Architecture Rubric

      • Refactoring

      • Think About the Future, But Wait to Act

      • Feature Tree

      • Decision Tables

      • Decision Table Example

      • Flowcharts

      • Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT) Analysis

      • Example: SWOT Layout

      • SWOT Steps

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 13 - ARCHITECTURE DELIVERABLES

      • Documentation Best Practices

      • Architecture Requirements Document

      • Template: Requirements Specification

      • IEEE Architectural Description Document

      • Template: Architectural Description Document

      • TOGAF Architecture Definition Document

      • Templates: Architectural Definition Document

      • Group Discussion: Architecture Definition Documents

      • Interface Specifications

      • Interface Specification Best Practices

      • Interface Design Document

      • Template: Interface Design Document

      • Database Design Document

      • Template: Database Design Document

      • Platform Design Document

      • Template: Platform Design Document

      • Architecture Decision Document

      • Template: Architecture Decision Document

      • ATAM: Scenario-based Architecture Review

      • Example: Utility Tree

      • Presentation Best Practices: ICEPAC

      • Verbal Supports: CREST

      • Group Discussion: Presentations

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 14 - ARCHITECTURE DECISION DOCUMENTS

      • Architectural Decision-making

      • Architecture Decision Documents

      • Sample 1: Work Queues

      • Sample 1 Continued

      • Sample 2: Business Rules

      • Sample 2 Continued

      • Summary


      CHAPTER 15 - THE ARCHITECTURE TOOLBOX

      • Improving Architecture Skills

      • Improving Architecture Skills: Spend Time @ the Library

      • Improving Architecture Skills: Use Cookbooks

      • Improving Architecture Skills: Practice with Mentors

      • Improving Architecture Skills: Look for Existing Stuff

      • Improving Architecture Skills: Build a Toolbox

      • What Goes in A Toolbox

      • Business Analysis Book of Knowledge (BABOK)

      • Resource: Business Architecture Body of Knowledge (BIZBOK™)

      • DAMA DMBOK

      • Software Engineering Institute (SEI)

      • Software Engineering Book of Knowledge (SWEBOK)

      • OpenUp

      • Microsoft Library

      • Financial Industry Organizations

      • Health Industry Organizations

      • Retail Industry Organizations

      • Technology Industry Organizations

      • Reference Library

      • Practitioner Toolbox Items

      • Group Discussion: Toolbox Items

      • Summary


      HANDOUT 1 - SAMPLE PRINCIPLES

      • Business Principles

      • Data Principles

      • Application Principles

      • Technology Principles

      • Governance Principles

      • SOA Governance Principles


      HANDOUT 2 - REQUIREMENT PATTERNS

      HANDOUT 3 - RUBRIC WORKSHEET

      APPENDIX A - REFERENCE LIBRARY

      • Overview

      • Industry Organizations

      • References & Further Reading


      APPENDIX B - ARCHITECTURE GLOSSARY

      APPENDIX C - PATTERN LIST

      Audience

      Architects.

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