The Architect Sync is a regular event in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) where System, Solution, and Enterprise Architects, together with technical stakeholders, align on architectural decisions. Its purpose is to ensure alignment, transparency, and collaborative decision-making, especially regarding enablers, technical dependencies, and the sustainability of the architectural runway.
Origin and Purpose
In SAFe, architecture is an enabler of flow, quality, and business agility. The Architect Sync was introduced to:
- coordinate architectural decisions early,
- make dependencies across teams, ARTs, and Solution Trains visible,
- balance Intentional Architecture (planned guardrails) and Emergent Design (bottom-up innovation).
Core Elements
- Participants: System, Solution, and Enterprise Architects; often RTEs, STEs, Product Management, and Business Owners.
- Frequency: Typically weekly or synchronized with ART Sync / PI events.
- Focus areas:
- Prioritization and progress of enabler work
- Development of the architectural runway
- Assurance of Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs)
- Alignment with portfolio epics and the Solution Intent
- Format: Can be a dedicated meeting or integrated into the ART Sync.
Application and Best Practices
- Early coordination: Avoids late or isolated architectural decisions.
- Transparency: Sync outcomes feed directly into the Program/Solution Kanban and the Solution Intent.
- Balance: Architects use the sync to balance strategic guardrails with emergent team innovation.
- PI Planning integration: Architect Sync results provide direct input into enabler prioritization for the next PI.
Practice Examples (typical patterns)
- Automotive: In ARTs working on driver assistance systems, safety requirements (e.g., ISO 26262) are translated into enabler stories early in the sync.
- Financial services: ARTs developing digital payment solutions use the sync to align cloud and security decisions with business epics.
- Remote ARTs: Distributed teams conduct Architect Sync virtually, with outcomes documented directly in the Solution Intent.
Criticism and Limitations
- Risk of overload: Too frequent or overly detailed syncs may slow down flow.
- Top-down risk: If architects dominate, emergent design is stifled; SAFe emphasizes the balance.
- Scaling challenges: In very large Solution Trains, the sync can degenerate into a reporting session.
- Dependence on facilitation: Without skilled moderation (e.g., RTE/STE), discussions risk drifting without clear decisions.
Embedding and Combination
- The Architect Sync is tightly linked with:
- ART Sync
- PI Planning
- Solution Intent
- Inspect & Adapt Workshop
- Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs)
CALADE Perspective
In practice, we often see the Architect Sync introduced formally but underused. CALADE supports organizations in making the sync decision-focused, pragmatic, and value-driven. Where internal capabilities are limited, CALADE provides seasoned architects as experts to strengthen decision-making.
Cross-References
- ART Sync
- System Architect / Engineering
- Enabler
- Solution Intent
- Inspect & Adapt Workshop
- Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs)
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