Principles about architecting outcomes

What this unit settles

The outcome group is about what the practice produces over time: realisation and evolution. That is the part most firms under-invest in, because it does not fit a project funding model. The principle is that architecting is judged by the entity it produces and how that entity evolves, not by the documents it emits.

What to do in your practice

Set two outcome measures for the practice: one for realisation, one for evolution. Record the evidence for each at every gate. Put the evolution measure on the portfolio review, not on the project, so it survives delivery. Put the realisation measure on the delivery gate and the evolution measure on the portfolio review. If both sit on the project, the evolution measure disappears when the project closes, which is exactly when the entity starts to change and the architecture needs attention most.

Who it binds

The organisation and the architecture practice. This unit is not a shall requirement; the claim level states what it is.

Evidence an auditor or regulator asks for

Common gaps this page catches

What to prepare before publication

Define the two measures and their evidence. Add them to the gate checklist and the portfolio review. Test them on one live entity.