What are the best ways to share software architecture evaluation results with stakeholders?

1 Define the purpose

Before sharing the evaluation results, you should clearly define the purpose of the communication. What are the main messages you want to convey? What are the expected outcomes or actions from the stakeholders? How will the evaluation results support your arguments or recommendations? Depending on the purpose, you may need to emphasize different aspects of the evaluation, such as the criteria, methods, findings, implications, or suggestions.

2 Know your audience

Another important factor to consider is the audience of your communication. Who are the stakeholders that need to know or care about the evaluation results? What are their roles, interests, and concerns? How familiar are they with the software architecture and the evaluation process? How much detail and technicality do they need or expect? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your communication style, tone, and content to suit their needs and preferences.

3 Choose the format

The format of your communication refers to the medium, structure, and presentation of the evaluation results. You can choose from various formats, such as reports, presentations, diagrams, dashboards, or prototypes, depending on the purpose and audience of your communication. For example, a report may be suitable for a formal and comprehensive documentation of the evaluation, while a presentation may be more effective for a brief and persuasive summary of the key points. A diagram may help illustrate the architecture and its properties, while a dashboard may show the metrics and indicators of the quality attributes. A prototype may demonstrate the functionality and usability of the system, while a code snippet may highlight the implementation details.

4 Use visual aids

Visual aids are tools that can help you convey complex or abstract information in a clear and engaging way. They can include charts, graphs, tables, images, icons, or colors, that can complement or replace text. Visual aids can help you highlight the main findings, trends, patterns, or relationships of the evaluation results, as well as attract and retain the attention of the stakeholders. However, you should use visual aids wisely and sparingly, and make sure they are relevant, accurate, and consistent with your communication purpose and message.

5 Provide context and interpretation

To make the evaluation results meaningful and actionable for the stakeholders, you should provide context and interpretation for them. Context refers to the background information and assumptions that influenced the evaluation, such as the scope, objectives, criteria, methods, sources, and limitations. Interpretation refers to the analysis and explanation of the evaluation results, such as the significance, relevance, impact, or implications. By providing context and interpretation, you can help the stakeholders understand how and why the evaluation was done, and what it means for the software architecture and the system.

6 Invite feedback and discussion

Finally, you should invite feedback and discussion from the stakeholders, to ensure that they are engaged and satisfied with the evaluation results. Feedback and discussion can help you validate, refine, or improve the evaluation results, as well as address any questions, doubts, or concerns that the stakeholders may have. You can also use feedback and discussion to solicit ideas, suggestions, or opinions from the stakeholders, to foster collaboration and consensus on the software architecture and the system.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?