ARC: Architecture
Document Type
Code: ARC
Name: Architecture
Domain: Technology & Data
Abstract
This specification defines the Architecture document type within the BSpec 1.0 Universal Business Specification Standard. It establishes normative requirements, structured templates, and implementation guidance for organizations documenting architecture within the technology-data domain. This specification enables systematic, machine-readable documentation that supports strategic planning, operational execution, and organizational alignment.
Purpose and Scope
The Architecture document defines systematic approaches to designing and documenting technical architecture that enables business capabilities through coherent technology decisions, quality attribute optimization, and strategic alignment. It establishes architectural frameworks that guide technology evolution and ensure scalable, secure, and maintainable systems.
Document Metadata Schema
yaml
---
id: ARC-{architecture-domain}
title: "Architecture — {Architecture Domain or System Name}"
type: ARC
status: Draft|Review|Approved|Active|Deprecated
version: 1.0.0
owner: Architecture-Team|Technical-Architect
stakeholders: [architecture-team, development-team, security-team, operations-team]
domain: technology
priority: Critical|High|Medium|Low
scope: architecture-design
horizon: strategic
visibility: internal
depends_on: [SYS-*, STR-*, CAP-*, REQ-*]
enables: [DEV-*, INF-*, SEC-*, API-*]
architecture_style: Microservices|Monolithic|Event-driven|Layered|SOA
maturity_level: Emerging|Established|Mature|Legacy
deployment_model: Cloud|On-premise|Hybrid
technology_approach: Modern|Traditional|Mixed
success_criteria:
- "Architecture enables business capabilities effectively"
- "Architecture meets quality attribute requirements"
- "Architecture supports scalability and evolution"
- "Architecture aligns with technology strategy"
assumptions:
- "Business requirements are clearly defined and stable"
- "Quality attribute priorities are understood"
- "Technology constraints and standards are established"
constraints: [Technology and compliance constraints]
standards: [Architecture and technology standards]
review_cycle: quarterly
---Content Structure Template
markdown
# Architecture — {Architecture Domain or System Name}
## Executive Summary
**Purpose:** {Brief description of architectural scope and objectives}
**Domain:** {Technical domain or system boundary}
**Architectural Style:** {Microservices|Monolithic|Event-driven|Layered|SOA}
**Maturity Level:** {Emerging|Established|Mature|Legacy}
## Architectural Vision
### Design Philosophy
- **Architectural Principles:** {Core principles guiding design decisions}
- **Quality Attributes:** {Performance, scalability, security, maintainability priorities}
- **Trade-off Decisions:** {Key architectural trade-offs and rationale}
- **Technology Strategy:** {Overall technology direction and philosophy}
### Business Alignment
- **Business Drivers:** {Business needs driving architectural decisions}
- **Value Proposition:** {How architecture enables business value}
- **Constraints:** {Business, technical, and regulatory constraints}
## System Context
### System Landscape
```yaml
system_context:
primary_systems:
- system: {System name}
role: {Core|Supporting|External}
relationship: {Integration type}
criticality: {Critical|Important|Standard}
external_dependencies:
- system: {External system}
provider: {Provider name}
interface: {Interface type}
sla: {Service level agreement}
```
### Stakeholder Concerns
| Stakeholder | Primary Concerns | Architectural Response |
|-------------|------------------|----------------------|
| {Stakeholder} | {Concern list} | {How architecture addresses} |
## Architectural Views
### Logical Architecture
```yaml
logical_components:
presentation_layer:
- component: {Component name}
responsibility: {What it does}
technology: {Technology choice}
business_layer:
- component: {Component name}
responsibility: {Business logic}
patterns: [pattern1, pattern2]
data_layer:
- component: {Component name}
responsibility: {Data access}
storage: {Storage technology}
```
### Physical Architecture
- **Deployment Model:** {Cloud|On-premise|Hybrid deployment approach}
- **Infrastructure Components:** {Servers, databases, networking components}
- **Geographic Distribution:** {Multi-region, availability zones, edge locations}
- **Scalability Model:** {Horizontal, vertical, auto-scaling approach}
### Integration Architecture
```yaml
integration_patterns:
synchronous:
- pattern: {REST APIs}
use_cases: [use_case1, use_case2]
protocols: [HTTP, HTTPS]
asynchronous:
- pattern: {Message queues}
use_cases: [use_case1, use_case2]
technologies: [technology1, technology2]
data_integration:
- pattern: {ETL/ELT}
frequency: {Real-time|Batch|Scheduled}
tools: [tool1, tool2]
```
## Technology Stack
### Platform Decisions
```yaml
technology_choices:
programming_languages:
- language: {Language name}
use_case: {When to use}
rationale: {Why chosen}
frameworks:
- framework: {Framework name}
purpose: {What it's used for}
version: {Version constraints}
databases:
- database: {Database technology}
type: {Relational|NoSQL|Graph|Time-series}
use_case: {Data storage use case}
```
### Infrastructure Choices
- **Compute Platform:** {Kubernetes, serverless, virtual machines}
- **Storage Solutions:** {Block, object, file storage choices}
- **Network Architecture:** {VPC, subnets, load balancers, CDN}
- **Monitoring Stack:** {Observability and monitoring tools}
## Quality Attributes
### Performance Requirements
```yaml
performance:
response_time:
target: {Target response time}
measurement: {How measured}
critical_paths: [path1, path2]
throughput:
target: {Requests per second}
peak_load: {Peak capacity requirements}
scaling_strategy: {How to scale}
```
### Availability and Reliability
- **Availability Target:** {99.9%, 99.99%, etc.}
- **Recovery Objectives:** {RTO and RPO targets}
- **Fault Tolerance:** {Redundancy and failover strategies}
- **Disaster Recovery:** {Backup and recovery approach}
### Security Architecture
- **Security Model:** {Zero trust, defense in depth, etc.}
- **Authentication:** {Authentication mechanisms}
- **Authorization:** {Access control model}
- **Data Protection:** {Encryption and privacy measures}
## Implementation Strategy
### Development Approach
```yaml
development_strategy:
methodology: {Agile|DevOps|Continuous Delivery}
team_structure: {Team organization approach}
technology_governance: {How tech decisions are made}
migration_strategy:
approach: {Big bang|Phased|Strangler fig}
phases:
- phase: {Phase name}
scope: {What's included}
duration: {Timeline}
risks: [risk1, risk2]
```
### Risk Management
- **Technical Risks:** {Key technical risks and mitigations}
- **Integration Risks:** {Integration challenges and solutions}
- **Performance Risks:** {Performance concerns and mitigations}
- **Security Risks:** {Security threats and countermeasures}
## Governance and Evolution
### Architecture Governance
```yaml
governance:
decision_process: {How architectural decisions are made}
review_process: {Architecture review procedures}
standards: {Architectural standards and guidelines}
exceptions: {Exception handling process}
```
### Evolution Planning
- **Technology Roadmap:** {Planned technology evolution}
- **Modernization Strategy:** {Legacy system modernization}
- **Innovation Integration:** {How new technologies are adopted}
- **Sunset Planning:** {Retirement of legacy systems}
## Validation
*Evidence that architecture enables business capabilities, meets quality requirements, and supports evolution*Quality Standards
Bronze Level (Minimum Viable)
- [ ] Basic architectural overview with key components
- [ ] Simple technology stack documentation
- [ ] Basic integration patterns identified
- [ ] All required metadata fields completed
Silver Level (Investment Ready)
- [ ] Comprehensive architectural views and documentation
- [ ] Detailed quality attribute requirements and design
- [ ] Technology decision rationale and governance
- [ ] Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
Gold Level (Operational Excellence)
- [ ] Advanced architectural patterns and innovative solutions
- [ ] Sophisticated quality attribute optimization
- [ ] Comprehensive evolution and modernization strategy
- [ ] Data-driven architectural decision making
Common Pitfalls
- Over-engineering: Creating overly complex architectures for simple problems
- Insufficient documentation: Poor documentation of architectural decisions and rationale
- Ignoring non-functional requirements: Focusing only on functional without quality attributes
- Technology-first decisions: Choosing technology without business justification
Success Patterns
- Evolutionary architecture: Architecture that can adapt and evolve with changing business needs and continuous improvement
- Technology-business alignment: Strong alignment between technology choices and business strategy with clear value proposition
- Quality-driven design: Architecture optimized for critical quality attributes with measurable goals and monitoring
- Governance integration: Effective architectural governance with clear decision processes and standards compliance
Relationship Guidelines
Typical Dependencies
- SYS (Systems): System requirements drive architectural design and component selection
- STR (Strategy): Strategic direction informs architectural principles and technology choices
- CAP (Capabilities): Business capabilities determine architectural patterns and designs
- REQ (Requirements): Functional and non-functional requirements shape architectural decisions
Typical Enablements
- DEV (Development): Architecture guidelines enable development standards and practices
- INF (Infrastructure): Architecture design drives infrastructure requirements and deployment
- SEC (Security): Architecture framework enables security design and implementation
- API (APIs): Architecture patterns enable API design and integration strategies
Document Relationships
This document type commonly relates to:
- Depends on: SYS (Systems), STR (Strategy), CAP (Capabilities), REQ (Requirements)
- Enables: DEV (Development), INF (Infrastructure), SEC (Security), API (APIs)
- Informs: Technology selection, system design, development standards
- Guides: Implementation strategy, technology governance, evolution planning
Validation Checklist
- [ ] Executive summary with clear purpose, domain, architectural style, and maturity level
- [ ] Architectural vision with design philosophy, quality attributes, and business alignment
- [ ] System context with landscape, dependencies, and stakeholder concerns
- [ ] Architectural views with logical, physical, and integration architecture
- [ ] Technology stack with platform decisions and infrastructure choices
- [ ] Quality attributes with performance, availability, and security requirements
- [ ] Implementation strategy with development approach and risk management
- [ ] Governance and evolution with decision processes and modernization strategy
- [ ] Validation evidence of architecture effectiveness, quality achievement, and strategic alignment