architecture-review-board

You can standardize architecture decisions by applying a repeatable governance process to evaluate, authorize, and record proposed changes using RFC templates, review criteria, and ADR logging. This prevents inconsistent design choices and risky rollouts.

An RFC template for an architecture review board should include the problem statement, proposed solution, alternatives considered, impact analysis, migration plan, risks, and open questions to guide cross-team technical reviews.

Structure an architecture review by defining clear review criteria, a set meeting format, and decision outcomes like Approve, Reject, Defer, or Request Changes to speed up cross-team alignment and produce meeting minutes.

You need to log an Architecture Decision Record when evaluating architecture pattern changes, adding external dependencies, adopting new programming languages, or approving a new database to maintain an accessible history of technical choices.

Enforce architectural readiness quality gates by maintaining an accessible decision log, recording meeting minutes, and conducting quarterly reviews to validate past decisions and enforce submission and timing rules for proposed changes.

Yes, this architecture review process applies directly to use cases like approving a new database, adding an external dependency, adopting a new programming language, or evaluating an architecture pattern change.