1. Align
Align our focus with the organisation’s business model, the needs of its users, and its short, medium, and long-term goals.
Every decision we take regarding the architecture, the code, or the organisation has business and user consequences. In order to design, build, and evolve software systems most effectively, our decisions need to create the optimal business impact, which can only be achieved if we are aligned to the business goals, as well as supporting the users current and potensial future needs.
Badly designed architecture and/or boundaries can have a negative impact or even make it impossible to achieve these goals.
As a starting point, we recommend The Business Model Canvas for the business perpective, User Story Mapping for the user vantage point.
Tools
- Impact Mapping
- The Business Model Canvas
- The Product Strategy Canvas
- Wardley Mapping
- User Story Mapping
Who to Involve
- People who design, build, test software
- People who have domain knowledge
- People who understand the product and business strategy
- Real end users, not only their representatives in your organisation