This webinar chronicles one organization’s trial-and-error approach in discovering how to achieve technical alignment across multiple teams while preserving team empowerment. Presenter: Chris Edwards, P.Eng. Chris is a software manager with IHS Inc. Original copy for details at https://www.synerzip.com/webinar/role-of-architect-in-agile/

1. © 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYCWebinar Series 2015
what is the role of an
architect in an agile
organization?
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The Agile Architect / November 2015

2. Information | Analytics | Expertise
© 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYCWebinar Series 2015
Chris Edwards P.Eng., Senior Manager
Chris.Edwards@ihs.com
@AgileChrisYYC
THE AGILE ARCHITECT
Our Experience in Discovering a Successful Pattern
NOVEMBER 2015

3. © 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYCWebinar Series 2015
Setting the Stage • 5 teams, 5-9 each (including QA)
• Mix of Scrum/Kanban/Scrumban
• Thick Client
• C++
• Mature Codebase
• Recently Adopted Agile
• Major Project – Client / Server
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The best architectures,
requirements, and designs
emerge from self-organizing
teams.
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Agile Manifesto

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Architecture
Approach 1:
Laissez Faire
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HELP!!!

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empowerment is more
than just taking your
hands off the wheel
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how do we incorporate
an architect…
without sacrificing
agile values?
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The Agile Architect / November 2015

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Wanted to avoid this:
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Requirements
Design
Code
Test
Deploy

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And this:
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The Agile Architect / November 2015
cliparthut.com

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Architecture
Approach 2:
The Architecture
Scout
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The Agile Architect / November 2015
Architecture by Example
”“

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The Agile Architect / November 2015

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The Agile Architect / November 2015
Too many classes makes
the system too complex!
Big classes make the
system unmaintainable!

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The Agile Architect / November 2015
WORK HARDER!

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what if the
architect is
WRONG?
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how do you know
if the architect
is WRONG?
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I thought you knew
something I didn’t
”
“

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architect is a
leadership role
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The Agile Architect / November 2015
xkcd.com
22

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Image Source: worklifematters.net
Spotify Engineering Videos

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how do I serve the
teams without telling
them what to do?
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Intent Based
Leadership
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Rob van Hilten, Flickr

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The Agile Architect / November 2015
Don’t move information to authority,
move authority to the information
”
“ David Marquet

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The Agile Architect / November 2015
Image Source: worklifematters.net

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The Agile Architect / November 2015
two pillars that need to be in place:
the technical competence …. and organization clarity.
… put those things in place
and then you can give control.
”
“
David Marquet

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i intend to…
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Image Source: worklifematters.net
Spotify Engineering Videos

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Architecture
Approach 3:
The Architecture
Coach
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Rob van Hilten, Flickr

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Daily Design Meeting • 30 minutes
• Technical lead from each team
• Discuss challenges that being encountered
• Exercise is repeated on the team that brought
the challenge
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Resist the urge to provide solutions.
”
“ David Marquet

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questions
communicate
values
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letting go is hard
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The Agile Architect / November 2015
organizations which design systems ... are constrained to
produce designs which are copies of the communication
structures of these organizations
”
“
M. Conway

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Architecture
Approach 3:
The Architecture
Coach
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Rob van Hilten, FlickrCoaching Agile Teams, Lyssa Adkins

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Focus on Interests
Rather than Positions
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The Agile Architect / November 2015
Rob van Hilten, Flickr

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Design Steps • What is the problem you’re trying to solve?
• What solutions should we consider?
• What are the pros/cons of each solution?
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create a common framework
for resolving conflict
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disagreement is a
mechanism for
organizational clarity
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the end?
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something interesting
happened
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?

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do we still need an
architect?
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Final Architecture
Approach:
Architecting as a
Team
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Steve Jurvetson, Flickr

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Image Source: worklifematters.netSpotify Engineering Videos

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knowing what we know today
would we do it all again?
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approach must evolve
over time
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The Agile Architect / November 2015

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Summary • Empowerment is more than standing back
• Architect must be connected to the code
• Lead through intent
• Resist the urge to provide solutions
• Build relationships between teams
• Create a framework for disagreement
• Disagreement is a mechanism for
organizational clarity
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The Agile Architect / November 2015

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leadership skills are
vital to an architect’s
success
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www.synerzip.com
Hemant Elhence
hemant@synerzip.com
469.374.0500
55

52. © 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYCWebinar Series 2015
Synerzip in a Nutshell
 Software product development partner for small/mid-sized technology companies
• Exclusive focus on small/mid-sized technology companies, typically venture-backed
companies in growth phase
• By definition, all Synerzip work is the IP of its respective clients
• Deep experience in full SDLC – design, dev, QA/testing, deployment
 Dedicated team of high caliber software professionals for each client
• Seamlessly extends client’s local team offering full transparency
• Stable teams with very low turn-over
• NOT just “staff augmentation, but provide full management support
 Actually reduces risk of development/delivery
• Experienced team – uses appropriate level of engineering discipline
• Practices Agile development – responsive yet disciplined
 Reduces cost – dual-site team, 50% cost advantage
 Offers long-term flexibility – allows (facilitates) taking offshore team captive – aka
“BOT” option
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Synerzip Clients
57

54. © 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYCWebinar Series 2015
Next Webinar
Evolution of Configuration Management
Into a DevOps/Agile World
Complimentary Webinar:
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
@ Noon CST
Presented by: Marisa Sawatphadungkij,
CM & Test Manager
at Drillinginfo
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55. © 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYCWebinar Series 2015
Hemant Elhence
hemant@synerzip.com
469.374.0500
Connect with Synerzip
@Synerzip
linkedin.com/company/synerzip
facebook.com/Synerzip
59

56. © 2015 IHS @AGILECHRISYYCWebinar Series 2015
Chris Edwards
Chris.Edwards@ihs.com
@AgileChrisYYC
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The Agile Architect / November 2015
Questions?