On the Syntax and Semantics of Architectural Principles

This paper illustrates why architectural principles are important for IT management and how the principles can be used. By analyzing architectural principles at an enterprise, knowledge is gained on how to formulate principles so that they are an effective steering tool. This knowledge is transformed into a framework for formulating architectural principles. The analysis of the architectural principles has been performed from two different angles; have we got the principles right (syntax) and have we got the right principles (semantics). The industrial case is complemented with examples from literature.