Best Practices for Useful Architecture Reviews
How to make enterprise and solution architecture reviews more than just a formality
In the previous post, I wrote about why architecture reviews matter—and why they often come too late to steer meaningful change. Still, reviews have their place. They’re checkpoints, moments to reflect, align, and catch problems before it’s too late.
But to work, they need to be intentional, connected, and constructive.
Let’s dig into what makes an architecture review actually useful.
What Makes or Breaks an Architecture Review?
There’s more to a good review than just getting people in a room and asking for comments.
If a review isn’t tied to the way your organization decides on and builds things, it becomes a side show.
If it doesn’t hold up the modeling practices you expect from your architects, it undermines your standards.
And if it has no consequence—if it can’t change anything—it risks becoming a ritual with no impact.
So before you dive into best practices, remember this: reviews only matter if they’re part of the process, not just parked next to it.
Practical Principles for Better Architecture Reviews
Here are seven principles I keep coming back to in architecture reviews—both when facilitating them and when being reviewed.
1. Clarify the Review’s Purpose and Scope
Architecture reviews can target different things: a solution design, an enterprise architecture (EA) deliverable, a project proposal, or even a strategic change proposal. Be clear what you’re reviewing—and why.
What kind of feedback is expected? Feasibility? Risks? Business alignment? Modeling clarity?
What is the outcome? Is the review part of a formal signoff? Input before moving to the next stage?
Where does this review fit in the process? In project governance? Portfolio planning? Agile increment planning?
You can cover both form and substance in a review, but don’t overdo it. Avoid trying to cover everything in one session.
2. Review Early Enough to Change the Outcome
Reviews often arrive too late. When designs are finalized and the solution is already moving into implementation, there’s little room for change.
That’s why timing matters:
For solution designs, review while decisions are still being made—not after.
For EA deliverables, share and refine drafts early.
For portfolio changes, involve architects when items are shaped—not just when they’re about to be prioritized.
Remember: if a review cannot lead to change, it’s not a steering mechanism—it’s a record of decisions already made.
3. Keep It Collaborative—Not Combative
Reviews should clarify, not judge. The point is to make thinking visible, not to catch people out.
Set the tone: reviews are working sessions, not audits.
Focus on shared understanding: What do we still need to figure out together?
Invite curiosity: “Why was this chosen?” is more helpful than “Why didn’t you do it differently?”
When reviews feel like shared design work, people show up to learn and improve. When they feel like performance evaluations, people hide mistakes.
4. Focus on What Matters, Not Just What is Modeled
The most helpful discussions in reviews often come from what’s not in the model: the assumptions behind it, the constraints not documented, the trade-offs made.
So focus your attention on:
Key design decisions and their rationale.
Risks, dependencies, and unknowns.
Alignment with architectural principles and business goals.
Impacts on other teams, applications, or initiatives.
Yes, check modeling consistency—but don’t get lost in notation if it’s not affecting clarity or outcomes.
5. Stay Aligned with Your Architecture Method and Modeling Standards
Reviews should reinforce—not replace—your architecture method.
That means:
Use the same terminology, structure, and visual patterns as your organization’s EA guidance.
Check consistency with shared principles, reference models, and modeling practices.
Highlight exceptions or deviations (and justify them if needed).
Don’t nitpick over modeling syntax—but ensure models are clear, reusable, and consistent enough.
A good review creates alignment across your architecture work. It shows how one piece fits into the bigger picture.
6. Connect to the Management System
Architecture reviews don’t exist in a vacuum—they need to be a natural, integrated part of how your organization manages change.
That means reviews should align with:
Your development process (whether project-based or agile).
Your decision-making forums (like steering groups or investment boards).
Your compliance and governance mechanisms (such as internal controls or risk management).
Your portfolio and prioritization models (roadmaps, architecture runway, or PI planning).
A good review process avoids unnecessary duplication. It complements other checkpoints and guidance mechanisms—instead of creating parallel, redundant layers of control.
If your reviews feel like a separate, standalone process, they probably won’t have much influence. When they’re tied into your management system, they help shape real decisions.
And most importantly: reviews must have teeth. If a design is fundamentally misaligned or not viable, the review should have the authority to recommend rework, delay, or even stopping the initiative.
Because if a review can’t lead to change—what exactly are you reviewing for?
7. Create Clear, Actionable Outcomes
The best reviews help teams move forward.
Summarize and share:
What was confirmed
What needs more work
What changes are required
Who owns each follow-up
Bonus tip: assign someone to document outcomes and action points live during the review. Don’t rely on post-meeting memory.
If the only output of a review is “we discussed some things,” you’ve missed the opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Architecture reviews are checkpoints—not steering wheels.
To actually guide architecture in the right direction, you need influence earlier in the lifecycle: through shared design sessions, principles, working models, and dialogue.
But reviews still matter. When used right, they help us pause, reflect, and make better decisions.
So if you’re shaping EA practices in your organization, build both sides:
✅ Early architectural guidance, embedded in the process
✅ Lightweight, purposeful reviews that clarify and align
And above all: make sure your reviews can actually make a difference.
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