Architecture by example
In civil architecture it is custom to analyse the works of others. By studying actual buildings, architects can see for themselves what works and what doesn’t. Especially with the blueprints in hand, walking through the building can be a great learning experience.
So why don’t we do the same with IT architecture? Lately we tend to focus more and more on the process, with IT Governance being a hot topic at the moment. But I think we should also look at the result and evaluate it. Does the proposed architecture work as expected? Are there new patterns that can be identified? How can we use the best practices?
Only through reflection can you become better.