Architecture Standards and Design Reviews for Principals (AS meets DR) Training Course

Module 1: Scalable Architecture Standards

Goal: Establish a simple, shared set of architecture standards that Principals can reference for day-to-day decision-making.

Key Topics

• Architectural principles: Distinguishing between what should be standardized and what is left to team discretion
• Foundations of decomposition: Defining system boundaries and ownership
• Integration fundamentals: Managing API contracts, versioning, and compatibility
• Messaging overview: Comparing Kafka and RabbitMQ, and identifying areas for standardization
• Data considerations: Perspectives on ownership and source-of-truth models (Mongo and SQL Server)
• Common architectural anti-patterns observed in high-scale systems
• Lightweight decision documentation (introducing ADR/RFC concepts)

Module 2: Code Architecture in Large-Scale .NET Solutions

Goal: Align on practical guidelines for making code architecture decisions within large-scale solutions.

Key Topics

• Organizing large .NET solutions: Modules, layering, and boundary definitions
• Managing dependency direction and maintaining architectural visibility within the codebase
• Shared libraries: Assessing when they provide benefits versus when they introduce coupling
• Code integration boundaries: Applying separation of concerns patterns
• Code architecture 'review lenses': Identifying key elements to check quickly
• Exception management that maintains system consistency

Module 3: Design Reviews that Drive Decisions

Goal: Implement a consistent design review process that yields clear decisions and shared understanding.

Key Topics

• Characteristics of effective Principal-level design reviews
• Review workflow: Determining what gets reviewed and at which stage
• Review criteria: Focusing on the most critical factors
• Facilitation: Keeping discussions among senior stakeholders focused and productive
• Decision closure: Techniques for resolving debates and progressing forward
• Documenting outcomes: Recording decisions and defining follow-up actions
• Practical exercise: Conducting a review using a brief system-level case study

Module 4: Exercising Influence Without Authority for Principals

Goal: Enhance mentoring, feedback, and alignment practices with individual contributors.

Key Topics

• Mentoring versus directing: Coaching without assuming ownership of tasks
• Providing high-level technical feedback that is clear and aligned with standards
• Driving alignment across individual contributors: Practical strategies
• Constructively handling disagreement and resistance
• Reusable conversation patterns and scripts for Principals