Grounded Architecture

This book shares my approach to running an IT architecture practice in larger organizations based on my experience as Chief Architect at AVIV Group, eBay Classifieds, and Adevinta.

I call my approach “Grounded Architecture” to highlight the need for any IT architecture function to stay well-connected to all levels of an organization and led by data. 

Grounded Architecture has two main parts:

• Structure, elements you need to create in an organization to run Grounded Architecture practice and “ride” an architecture elevator, and
• Reflections, a set of my considerations and guiding principles that can help put the ideas of Grounded Architecture into practice.

The Grounded Architecture structure consists of three elements:

• Data Pillar,
• People Pillar,
• Architecture Activities Platform.

The Data Pillar ensures that architects’ decisions are data-informed, based on an up-to-date and complete overview of the organization’s technology landscape.

The People Pillar represents a strong network of people doing architecture across the organization that is crucial to ensure that architecture function has any tangible impact.

Lastly, the Architecture Activities Platform defines a set of processes and agreements enabling architects to do everything architecture typically does, leveraging data and people pillars to create a data-informed, organization-wide impact.

As reflections, I provide key lessons I learned while developing ideas of Grounded Architecture in practice:

• Architects as Superglue
• Skills
• Impact
• Leadership
• Architects’ Career Paths
• Culture Map: Architects’ Culture Mindfield Compass
• Managing Organization Complexity: Six Simple Rules
• In the Eye of the Storm: Aligning Business, Product, Technology and Organization Strategies
• Product Development and The Build Trap
• Architecture Governance: Mandates, Taxation, Nudge
• Economic Modeling: ROI and Financial Options