Collaborating to Obtain Architectural Vision

1. Collaborating to Obtain Architectural Vision Ian Barnett

4. A software architect [and thus the architecture] creates the overall vision and design for the software Dr. Richard N. Taylor, Professor of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Irvine Dr. NenadMedvidovic, Director of the USC CSSE Dr. Eric M. Dashofy, Senior member of Computer Systems Research, The Aerospace Corporation

5. Software architecture can be thought of as: • a map through the jungle • blueprints for a building • Essential to establish the vision, and how to accomplish it • Provides greater understanding of the software system to be designed • Helps overcome complexity • “Good architecture makes construction easy, ” (McConnell 44) • Coordinates work of developers • Ensures software vision from top to bottom • Provides evidence to all stakeholders that the software system is feasible. Importance of Architecture

6. Architectural Success is essential for project success

7. What does a software architect do? How should he or she do this?

8. To achieve this overall understanding of the system as a whole and to obtain this shared vision, all stakeholders need to own the architecture. • “Quality of architecture determines conceptual integrity of the system. A well thought-out architecture provides the structure needed to maintain a system’s conceptual integrity from the top levels down to the bottom,” (Code Complete, 44). Collaboration with all the stakeholders is essential for architectural success Architectural Collaboration

9. “. . . the principle of deciding the form of the whole before the details have been explored outside the mind of the chief designer does not work in novel situations for which the necessary experience cannot be contained within the mind of one person,” (Taylor, Medvidović, and Dashofy86). • Too much complexity for one individual. • This leads to lack of sufficient understanding of the problem and solution. • “The designer of today’s state-of-the-art artifact needs help from masters of various crafts,” (Brooks). • Complexity leads to probable misinterpretation, but which can be circumvented by collaborative design (Blair, Watt, and Cull 28). Architectural Complexity

10. More cases explored can lead to greater understanding of the problem and greater evidence that the best solution was chosen • “By describing the … alternatives, the architecture provides the rationale for system organization and shows that each class has been carefully considered,” (McConnell 45) • “Don’t close the trade-space too fast,” Neil Siegel • This allows for more fact-based decisions • A team working toward creating the architecture will be able to explore a larger trade-space Explore the Trade-Space

11. Architecture itself contributes to feasibility evidence that the system can be built which can increase stakeholder commitment • If the system is built according to the architecture, it will meet all requirements and operational concepts. • Architecture, if understood by customers, convinces • them that their requested system has a way forward • Collaborative design helps all to feel like winners, so they will fight to make it a success • All understand the software solution better • Tangible Promote Stakeholder Commitment

12. Neil Siegel, Effective teams come from: • Exploring the trade-space • Listening • Making the success of the project ‘our’ success • Collaborate early and often, (Chiang and Mookerjee 91). • “Exactly one person per area of architectural concern (that is, availability, deployability, auditability, and so on)” • Make each contributor to the architecture accountable • Architect works as a facilitator instead of façade (i.e. helps customers communicate to developers, encouraging direct interaction) (Blair, Watt, and Cull 29). • Team communication integrated into process, every phase • Scheduled walkthroughs, peer reviews, of code and architecture, project meetings, win-win sessions (Chiang and Mookerjee 90) Effective Collaboration

13. “Programmers realize and refine the architects vision… If an architectural design decision has unforeseen consequences, a programmer likely will be the first to notice,” (Taylor, Medvidović, and Dashofy670). • System engineers need to understand how the software will fit with the rest of the system. • Management needs to support and drive the team toward that architectural goal. Architects help them think of the consequences of their decisions. • Customers present vision. Architecture convinces them that their requirements are being met. • “The higher the system complexity, the more intense coordination should be,” (Chiang and Mookerjee 92). Interactions in Collaborative Design

14. Frederick Brooks suggested two main reasons to use collaborative design in software • Complexity of system/unfamiliarity with software technologies • Short development time • Collaborative design and architecture promotes learning • Helps bring a team unfamiliar with the technologies up to speed more quickly • More considerations can be addressed • Because of the improved understanding by all, the construction of the software can be expeditedand improved. • Improve success of CS577 projects CS577

15. Blair, Stuart, Richard Watt, and Tim Cull. “Responsibility Driven Architecture.” IEEE Software March/April (2010): 26-32. Brooks, Frederick P. The Design of Design. Boston: Addison-Wesley, 2010. Chiang, I. Robert, and Vijay S. Mookerjee. “Improving Software Team Productivity.” Communications of the ACM47 (2004): 89-93. Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Fireside, 1990. McConnell, Steve Code Complete. 2nd ed. Redmond: Microsoft Press, 2004. Smolander, Kari, Matti Rossi, and SandeepPurao “Software Architectures: Blueprint, Literature, Language or Decision?” European Journal of Information Systems17 (2008): 575-589 Taylor, Richard N., NenadMedvidović, and Eric M. Dashofy. Software Architecture: Foundations, Theory, and Practice. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2010. Jungle images obtained from http://writingday.wikispaces.com/group13 and http://www.costaricafuntravel.com/Tours-Caribbean-Costa-Rica.html References