ArchitectureReview vs.

Post ImplementationReview

Definitions

The set of structures needed to reason about the system, which comprises software elements, relations among them, and properties of both.

SEI

Realization of a technical specification or algorithm as a program, software component, or other computer system through computer programming and deployment.

Software architecture Implementation

Why to review

Identify potential risks in the proposed architecture

Reduce project cost caused by undetected design problems

Uncover problems and conflicts in requirements

Assess quality attributes Identify skills required to

implement the proposed architecture

Promote good architecture design and evaluation practices

Improve architecture documentation quality

Determine whether the project goals were achieved

Determine the satisfaction of stakeholders

Determine the project's costs and benefits

Identify areas of further development

Identify lessons learned Report findings and

recommendations

AR PIR

When to review

Project initiation Initial design Major design changes

Shortly after a project has been completed

After the deliverables have been handed to the customer

When most of the problems have been eliminated

But not too late - while members of the project team still remember the most

AR PIR

What to review - AR

Logical -functional requirements: Abstraction & Encapsulation Information hiding Separation Modularization

Quality attributes: Flexibility Security Scalability Performance Reliability Availability Maintainability

What to review - AR

Infrastructure Components 1.Clients

e.g. web browsers or telephones 2.Network components

Includes firewalls and web traffic dispatchers 3.Web servers

Handles HTTP requests and securing communications via SSL 4.Application servers

Focuses on presentation and session management services 5.Business logic and transaction servers

Manage and execute transactions 6.Database servers

Data storage and management 7.Server Operating Systems 8.Development languages and tools

Create logic, design GUI interfaces, and customize services 9.Network and systems management tools

Monitor and manage system / network events

What to review - PIR

Measure the benefits and objectives Assess the final deliverables produced Decide whether the project was within scope Review the project against schedule Compare the expenditure against budget State the final outcome of the project Document any lessons learned for future projects

How to review

Prior to the review, gather inputs that describe the architecture

Use scenarios to evaluate the quality attributes in specific contexts

Review and identify gaps between architecture characteristics / attributes and business requirements

Ask for openness Be objective Document success Look with hindsight Be future-focused Look at both positives

and negatives

AR PIR

After the review

Q&A

Sources

Samir Roshan, IT Architecture Review: The Basics, The Approach, The Outcome, Nov. 9, 2012, http://thinkingloudoncloud.com/2012/11/architecture-review-basics-approach-outcome/ (last visited Feb. 24, 2014)

Alexander Nowak, Software Architecture Review Guidelines, Sep. 12, 2007, http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/20467/Software-Architecture-Review-Guidelines (last visited Feb. 24, 2014)

Denise Cook, Architecture Evaluation and Review Practices, June 2007, https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb896741.aspx (last visited Feb. 24, 2014)

ISACA Conference Fall 2003, IT Architecture Review. http://www.sfisaca.org/download/C5ITArchitecture.pdf (last visited Feb. 24, 2014)

TOGAF, Chapter 48: Architecture Compliance, http://pubs.opengroup.org/architecture/togaf9-doc/arch/chap48.html (last visited Feb. 24, 2014)

MindTools, Post-Implementation Reviews. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_74.htm (last visited Feb. 25, 2014)

Method123, Post Implementation review. http://www.method123.com/post-implementation-review.php (last visited Feb. 26, 2014)

Software Engineering Institute, Glossary, http://www.sei.cmu.edu/architecture/start/glossary/index.cfm#Modern (last visited Feb. 24, 2014)

Holon Solutions, http://www.holonsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/blocks.jpg