Proposal: Agile-based delivery model for implementing the recommended solution
Overview: Use a two-week sprint cadence with a Continuous Architecture approach—deliver in vertical slices, keep architecture lightweight and iterative, and embed governance into the flow so reviews are fast, incremental, and non-blocking.
Sprint cadence
- Sprint length: 2 weeks
- Release cadence: Every 4–6 weeks (two to three sprints) for client demos / deployments
- Iteration types: Feature sprints (normal work), Spike sprint (ad-hoc design/proof-of-concept if a complex risk arises)
Roles & responsibilities
- Solutions Architect (SA): overall solution owner, creates runway, writes ADRs, supports backlog grooming, performs design reviews
- Product Owner (PO): prioritizes functional backlog aligned to business value
- Tech Lead(s): implementers, own component design and CI/CD
- Scrum Master: removes impediments, protects velocity
- Architecture Review Board (ARB): small group (SA + 1–2 senior architects) for governance decisions
Ceremonies
- Backlog Refinement (weekly): SA attends to ensure technical acceptance criteria & architecture constraints are embedded
- Sprint Planning: include a 30–45 minute architecture alignment slot where SA/Tech Leads present intended designs for committed stories
- Daily Stand-up: highlight technical risks or review needs
- Mid-sprint Design Sync (optional): 30-min touchpoint for complex features
- Sprint Review / Demo: show integrated increments and capture feedback
- Retrospective: include architecture fit/tech debt topics
- ARB Cadence: bi-weekly timebox (1 hour) to approve ADRs or escalated designs
Artifact handoffs
- Architectural Runway: initial set of components, interfaces, diagrams, non-functional constraints stored in a living repo
- Architecture Decision Records (ADRs): one-per-major-decision, linked to relevant backlog items
- Design Briefs: 1–2 page solution sketches for features >3 story points
- Story Templates: include tech acceptance criteria, performance/security checks, required interfaces
- Handoff process: Tech Lead marks story “Ready for Dev” only after SA signs off (can be a quick approval in ticketing tool)
Integrating governance without blocking velocity
- Shift-left governance: SA embeds constraints in backlog items early so teams implement to spec
- Lightweight approvals: small changes approved asynchronously via ticket comments; only major changes go to ARB
- Incremental reviews: break large designs into smaller ADRs tied to sprints so only the next slice requires detailed review
- Time-boxed design slots in Sprint Planning and Mid-sprint Syncs to prevent ad-hoc blocking
- Definitions:
- Definition of Ready (DoR): includes architecture acceptance or clear ADR pointer
- Definition of Done (DoD): includes passing automated architecture checks (lint/security/CSPM), updated ADRs, updated diagrams
- Automated gates: static analysis, security scans and integration tests run in CI to catch violations early rather than manual gating
- Escalation: if ARB review is needed, fast-track with a pre-scheduled ARB slot or ad-hoc 30-min emergency review—avoid blocking the sprint by moving non-critical tasks to next sprint when approval is pending
Example flow for a complex feature
- PO creates epic; SA drafts Design Brief and ADR and links to epic.
- During refinement, SA splits epic into vertical stories; tags which stories require ARB.
- Team commits stories in sprint planning after the 30-min design alignment.
- Implementation uses CI checks; small design clarifications handled asynchronously.
- Major decision scheduled to ARB in next bi-weekly slot; if unavailable, use spike story to unblock implementation for current sprint.
Metrics & governance KPIs
- Review turnaround time (target <48 hours for async approvals)
- % stories with architecture-related rework after DoD (target <5%)
- Velocity stability (monitor if governance causes >10% sprint slippage)
- Number of ADRs created and referenced (trend toward stable architecture)
Why this works
- Embeds architects in delivery, shifting decisions left so implementation flows.
- Time-boxed, incremental governance prevents large blocking reviews.
- Automated checks catch regressions early, preserving velocity while ensuring compliance and scalability.
