Identifying and proactively managing architecture risk

To help the architect deliver a feasible architecture within given time, cost, and quality constraints, architecture methods such as the ADD, ATAM, QAW, and others have been developed and adopted. The leadership ability of the architect greatly influences the outcome of the application of these methods. We discuss how that leadership ability can be strengthened by leveraging a broad range of risk management techniques, and show how to incorporate a risk-driven architecture management philosophy into mainstream architecture processes. Bringing skills in standardized architecture toolsets, patterns, and methods alone to the table is no longer a significant differentiator for architects. Augmenting these skills with a robust set of risk management practices allows the architect to develop into an organizational leader and add unique and repeatable value in risk- and control-conscious business environments.