how architects nurture technical excellence

HOW ARCHITECTS NURTURE TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE@patkua

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Who is @thoughtworks

Who is @patkua

tiny.cc/retrostiny.cc/twtl

#architect#developer#leader#coach

#lifelong-learner

#author#facilitator

#speaker

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

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GOALS

Identify what Technical Excellence means Explore how Architects behave in an agile environment New tools and techniques for improving Technical Excellence Examples and stories New connections

OUR PLAN

Define Technical Excellence

Explore the role of an Architect in

Agile environments

Uncover how Architects encourage Technical Excellence

HOW WE WILL WORK

Small presentations Group discussions Individual brainstorming Group work

WHO DO WE HAVE?

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INTRODUCTIONS

Please introduce yourself to your table

INTRODUCTIONS

10-15 minutes

Name and from which country they are from Current company and role Years of experience working in agile envinornments One interesting fact about your professional life

WHAT IS TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE?

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WHAT IS *NOT* TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

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EXAMPLES OF TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

The right level of…

automationdesignrefactoring

The appropriate use of…

new technologiesnew tools

NOT CONCRETE ENOUGH

Brainstorm concrete examples

where you have seen Technical Excellence?

(One example per sticky note)

Attempt a definition of Technical Excellence

Technical Excellence

is… (category e.g. noun, verb, adjective)

that … (expanded definition)

Examples include…

Synonyms…

THE ARCHITECT ROLE

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A SOFTWARE ARCHITECT

a role responsible for Technical Vision

ideally coding focusing on the long term view worried about overall consistency

thinking about system trade-offs guardian of Cross Functional Requirements (CFRs)

Is…

RELEVANT CONCEPTS IN AGILE METHODOLOGIES

Scrum

Kanban

Crystal

FDDFeature Leads

XP System MetaphorCollective Code Ownership

SAFEArchitect/EngineeringEnterprise Architect

Modern AgileMake it safe to fail

ARCHITECTURE

- Grady Booch

“ All architecture is design, but not all design is architecture ”

ARCHITECT ROLELeadership

Coaching

Feedback

Delegating

Facilitating

CommunicationRisk Management

InfluenceRelationship

Building

Team Management

Conflict Resolution

Motivation

NegotiationOO

DevelopmentAutomated testing

RefactoringPairing skills

Design Patterns Knowledge of tools

DB

Iterative and Incremental

Design

Class Design

Writing Code Analysis

Architecture

Technical Risk Management

Release Management

CFRsTechnical Vision and Cohesion

Infrastructure

Build vs Buy Decisions

Evolutionary Architecture

Wide Toolkit

System Design

Whole Lifecycle FocusNon-Technical

Stakeholder Advice

www.thekua.com

WHAT SHOULD AN ARCHITECT DO?

Brainstorm (1 item per sticky)

activities and responsibilities you see successful architects do

ARCHITECTS + TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

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What concrete actions/activities have you seen/experienced

where a Software Architect encouraged Technical Excellence?

What concrete actions/activities have you seen/experienced

where a Software Architect failed to encourage/discouraged

Technical Excellence?

Support (Active)

Support (Passive)

Discourage (Active)

Discourage (Passive)

CLASSIFICATION

CAPTURE THE STORIES

TITLEOne line description (challenge + solution)

SUMMARY

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OUR PLAN

Define Technical Excellence

Explore the role of an Architect in

Agile environments

Uncover how Architects encourage Technical Excellence

GOALS

Identify what Technical Excellence means Explore how Architects behave in an agile environment New tools and techniques for improving Technical Excellence Examples and stories New connections

CLOSING THOUGHTS

@patkua

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?