SAFe Architecture Flashcards
1
Q
Describe Agile Architecture
A
- Evolves systems over time while supporting the needs of current users
- Avoids overhead and delays associated with phase-gated processes
- Ensures systems always run
- Supports the continuous flow of value
- Balances intentional architecture and emergent design
2
Q
Name 6 common architecture domains
A
- Business Architecture
- Information Architecture
- Application Architecture
- Technical Architecture
- Integration Architecture
- Security Architecture
3
Q
Business Architecture
A
- focus on how business must evolve to meet strategic objectives;
- articulates business Vision and impact on Value Stream;
- identifies business change requirements that inform work in other domains
4
Q
Information Architecture
A
- Focuses on how information stores and flows support business need;
- identifies information change requirements and how data is consumed;
- designs systems that manage data storage, accuracy and flow
5
Q
Application Architecture
A
- Focuses on systems and services used directly by customers/end users;
- designs applications that support desired user experiences;
- manages evolution of application portfolio
6
Q
Technical Architecture
A
- Focuses on evolving infrastructure in alignment with business needs;
- designs hardware, network, and other systems in support of apps and data;
- manages evolution of hosting environments
7
Q
Integration Architecture
A
- Focuses on how application, systems, and services intercommunicate
- Defines common services, APIs, and messaging protocols
- Defines how messages and payloads are routed and managed
8
Q
Security Architecture
A
- Focuses on protecting access to and use of sensitive information
- Determines security requirements and design supporting policies and systems
- Designs procedures for detecting and reacting to security breaches
9
Q
What is the (general) role of Architects in Safe?
A
- Architect solutions for continuous value flow
- Participate in design and execution of the Continuous Delivery Pipeline
- Bridge communications b/t business, development & operations
- Collaborate w/ strategic suppliers to ensure shared DevOps mindset
- Automate architectural compliance checks
- Evangelize and exemplify CLAMR principles
10
Q
How can Architects impact Flow
A
- Minimum viable architecture vs big design up front
- Automated compliance checks vs architecture review boards
- Continuous collaboration vs ivory towers
- Loosely coupled systems vs monolithic systems
- Architecture as code vs architecture as documentation
- Federated architecture vs architecture silos
11
Q
How many architectural domain(s) does each architect cover in SAFe?
A
SAFe says that Architects should span multiple domains
12
Q
What is Conway’s Law?
A
- architecture mimics team structure- if teams are large/disorganized so will be the architecture- if teams are loosely coupled and agile, so will the architecture
13
Q
What is the Inverse-Conway Maneuver?
A
- define organization that promote desired architecture; organize around natural seams in the system architecture
14
Q
What do Architects do during PI Planning?
A
- Present the architecture Vision
- Elaborate on nonfunctional requirements (NFRs) and desired implementation patterns and practices
- Ensure consistency and alignment of the implementation approach in team breakouts by actively engaging with the teams during breakout sessions
- Identify and resolve risks in real time/ anticipate dependencies
- Support ROAM (resolve, own, accept, or mitigate) activity by identifying and/or owning program risks [Program-level risks]
- Participate in Management review and problem solving
15
Q
How do Architects contribute to Features and Capabilities?
A
- Identifying measurable benefits and Metrics
- Gauging architectural impact
- Determining acceptance criteria
- Defining nonfunctional requirements (NFRs)
- Participating in backlog prioritization
16
Q
How do Architects support during the PI?
A
- Work with Agile Teams
- Support Enabler development
- Attend Iteration Reviews
- Attend System Demos
- Continuously refine the architectural backlog
- Demonstrate continuous delivery of Architectural Runway through Iteration Reviews, System Demos, and Solution Demos
- Shepherd the Architecture Vision to implementation
17
Q
How do Architects support Continuous Improvement?
A
- Refactor the architecture
- Loose coupling, cloud migration, performance tuning
- Upgrade and evolve tools, environments, and infrastructure
- CI/CD, test automation, infrastructure-as-code, auto-scaling
- CD of Architectural Runway
- Deliver and evaluate minimum viable architecture
- Research trends and applying emerging technology
18
Q
Describe an Architectural Sync
A
- Meting between all Architects involved in a Solution to:
- Align on strategy
- Design Architectural Runway
- Resolve risks and impediments
- Share news and knowledge
- Swarm on problems and solutions
19
Q
What is an Architect’s role during an Iteration Review?
A
-
Demonstrate intentional architecture
- Architects are team members who demo their work
- Demo spikes, Story-level Enablers, and nonfunctional requirements (NFRs)
- Gather feedback from the team and stakeholders
- Gauge value of architectural decisions
-
Attend other Iteration Reviews
- Architects are stakeholders of Agile Teams
- Observe how design is emerging
- Gauge alignment with Solution Intent
- Provide feedback
20
Q
What is an Architect’s role during a System Demo?
A
- Help prepare features for System Demo
- System integration, end-to-end tests, deployment
- Demonstrate Architectural Runway
- Enabler Features, NFRs, integrated systems
- Benefits to business and the Continuous Delivery Pipeline
- Gather feedback to continually improve system architecture
- Provide feedback on implemented system
- Verify alignment with Solution Intent
21
Q
What is an Architect’s role during a Solution Demo?
A
- Help prepare Capabilities for Solution Demo
- Solution integration, end-to-end tests, deployment
- Demonstrate Solution architecture
- Enabler Capabilities, NFRs, benefits
- Provide feedback on the implemented Solution
- Verify alignment with Solution Intent
22
Q
How do Enterprise Architects help steward Corporate Strategy?
A
- Collaborate with Lean Portfolio Management to provide high-level, all-inclusive Vision of Enterprise Solutions and development initiative
- Champion and communicate Strategic Themes & other business drivers throughout the organization
- Strongly influence SAFe portfolio budgets, architecture Vision, and Solution Roadmaps
23
Q
What technical strategies do Enterprise Architects drive?
A
- Solution architecture strategy
- Inter-program collaboration
- Choice of technology and usage
- Infrastructure strategy
- Implementation strategy
24
Q
Enterprise Architects participate in managing what?
A
- Guiding investments by horizon
- take an economic view (which systems are assets? Where is the value?)
- maintain technical currency
- balance legacy and emerging technology;
- protect and maintain core systems;
- leverage new technology;
- retire old systems
- Optimizing value and Solution integrity with capacity allocation
- Approving significant initiatives
- Continuous Business Owner engagement
25
Q
How do Architects help make shifts in technology?
A
- Typically start w/ Enabler Epics
- Architects generally own Enabler Epics
- Architects can advise on what patterns and techniques to use
