Solution Architecture Document

In previous chapters, you learned about the various aspects of solution architecture design and optimization. As the solutions architect works on the design, it is essential to have consistent communication with other stakeholders for successful application delivery. The solutions architect must communicate a design to all technical and non-technical stakeholders.

The solution architecture document (SAD) provides an end-to-end view of the application and helps everyone to be on the same page. In this chapter, you will learn about various aspects of the SAD, which addresses the needs of all stakeholders associated with the development of the application.

You will learn about the structure of the SAD and other types of documents of which the solutions architect needs to be aware, such as the request for proposal, where the solutions architect needs to provide input to make strategic decisions. We will cover the following topics to gain a deeper...

Purpose of the SAD

Often, architecture documentation needs are not addressed, and teams start working on implementation without understanding the overall architecture. The SAD provides a broad view of the overall solution design to keep all stakeholders informed.

The SAD is vital for various stakeholders, including project managers, who rely on it to oversee project coordination and progress. Business analysts use it to align the project with business requirements. Technical teams, including developers and IT professionals, refer to it for implementing and maintaining the proposed solutions. Senior management utilizes the document to make informed strategic decisions. Finally, clients or end users, who are the ultimate beneficiaries, depend on this document to ensure the project outcome meets their needs and expectations.

The SAD helps to achieve the following goals:

• Communicate the end-to-end application solution to all stakeholders.
• Provide a high-level...

Views of the SAD

The solutions architect needs to create a SAD that both business and technical users understand. A SAD bridges the communication gap between the business user and the development team to understand the function of the overall application. The best way to capture all stakeholders’ input is by putting yourself in their situation and looking at problems from the stakeholders’ perspectives. The solutions architect evaluates the business and technical aspects of architecture design to take cognizance of all technical and non-technical user requirements.

As illustrated in the following diagram, a holistic overview of the SAD comprises various views to cover different aspects derived from the business requirements:

Figure 16.1: SAD views

Solutions architects can choose standard diagrams such as a Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagram or a block diagram from Microsoft Visio to represent various views. These tools are widely recognized and...

Structure of the SAD

The structure of the SAD can differ from project to project per the stakeholder requirements and the nature of the given project. Your project could be creating a new product from the ground up, modernizing a legacy application, or moving the entire system to the cloud.

For each project, the SAD document may differ, but overall, it should consider various stakeholders’ views and include an array of sections as shown in the following screenshot:

Figure 16.2: Structure of a SAD

In the preceding SAD structure, you can see different sections covering multiple solution architecture and design aspects. The solutions architect may choose to add additional subsections or remove some sections as per the project requirements. For example, you can add another introduction section to discuss the document’s purpose with a summary. For a transition project, you may add a subsection to present the existing architecture, compare it with the target...

Life cycle of the SAD

The life cycle of a SAD aligns with different phases of a project’s life cycle. Previously in this chapter, we explored the various sections of the SAD, and these are each created at distinct stages. The life cycle of a SAD typically includes the following phases:

Figure 16.11: SAD life cycle

Let’s look at the phases in the SAD life cycle, shown in the preceding diagram, in more detail:

1. Initiation: The initiation phase is where the need for a SAD is recognized, usually at the project’s conception. This phase defines objectives, such as outlining the software architecture for a new enterprise application. This step sets the direction and scope for the document, ensuring it aligns with the project’s goals and stakeholder expectations.
2. Gathering requirements: In this crucial phase, detailed requirements are collected from key stakeholders. For a retail e-commerce platform, this might involve gathering insights...

SAD best practices and common pitfalls

Effective management of SADs involves certain best practices. Keeping the document clear and concise is crucial, making it easily understandable while avoiding technical jargon. Regular involvement of stakeholders in the process ensures that the document aligns with business and technical requirements. Keeping the SAD up to date with the latest project changes and developments is vital for its relevance and usefulness. Additionally, aligning the architecture outlined in the SAD with the organization’s broader business goals is essential, ensuring that the proposed technical solutions support and enhance the business objectives.

There are also common pitfalls to avoid when working with a SAD. Overcomplicating the architecture can lead to challenges in implementation and maintenance. A lack of flexibility in the document can hinder its ability to adapt to changes in project scope or objectives. Insufficient stakeholder engagement can...

IT procurement documentation for a solution architecture

IT procurement documents are popularly known as RFx documents. This is a term that includes different stages of the procurement process. RFx refers to a formal requesting process. RFx documents are categorized as request for proposal (RFP), request for information (RFI), and request for quotation (RFQ) documents.

Solutions architects are often involved in the procurement process, either leading the process or providing their input. These procurements may be related to outsourcing, contracting, procuring software such as a database or development tools, or buying SaaS solutions.

As these documents can be highly technical and will likely have a broad, long-term impact, the solutions architect needs to provide input by responding to any procurement requirements.

Let’s understand the difference between the different RFx documents:

• RFI: RFI comes early in the procurement process, where buyers invite...

Summary

A SAD aims to keep all stakeholders on the same page and get formal agreement on solution design and requirements. As stakeholders comprise both business and technical users, you learned about various SAD views that the solutions architect needs to consider. You must include views for non-technical users, such as business, process, and logical views. For technical users, include applications, development, deployment, and operational views.

In this chapter, you learned about the detailed structure of the SAD, with major sections and subsections.

Various sections of the SAD include details such as an overview of the solution, business, and conceptual architecture. You also learned about various architecture views in the architecture diagram, such as application, data, infrastructure, integration, and security. You also learned about other sections of the SAD, covering solution delivery considerations and operations management.

It has been a long journey of learning...