Architecture for Flow: Adaptive Systems with Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping, and Team Topologies

Architecture for Flow: Designing Adaptive Socio-Technical Systems
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt to change is not just advantageous--it's essential for survival. Architecture for Flow presents a groundbreaking holistic approach that integrates business strategy, software architecture, and team organization to create adaptive socio-technical systems optimized for continuous change and feedback. By combining Wardley Mapping, Domain-Driven Design, and Team Topologies, this book offers a comprehensive framework for organizations to anticipate change, unlock blockers to flow, and maintain competitive advantage in an increasingly uncertain world.
The book addresses the fundamental challenge facing modern organizations: How to design and build adaptive systems that thrive amid constant change. Drawing from historical examples of companies that failed to adapt--like Blockbuster, Kodak, and Nokia--it emphasizes that optimization requires treating organizations as socio-technical systems where social and technical aspects are aligned and designed together. The Architecture for Flow approach provides practical tools and methodologies for designing systems that can evolve continuously while delivering sustainable value.
Key Topics Covered:

• Business Strategy with Wardley Mapping: Understanding competitive landscapes and anticipating change through strategic visualization
• Strategic Domain-Driven Design: Analyzing problem domains and designing modular solution spaces aligned with business needs
• Tactical Domain-Driven Design: Implementing domain models that keep core business logic decoupled from external changes
• Team Topologies: Optimizing team structures and interactions to reduce bottlenecks and enhance flow
• Architecture for Flow Canvas: A structured approach to combine all three perspectives for assessment and future planning
• Legacy System Evolution: Practical guidance for transforming monolithic systems into adaptive architectures
• Continuous Improvement: Fostering organizational culture that sustains flow and embraces future change

In a world where "the only constant is change," organizations must build systems that can adapt quickly and effectively. This book offers a timely and essential perspective that goes beyond local optimization to address systemic improvement. By aligning business strategy, software architecture, and team organization, this guide provides leaders with the tools to not only build the right thing but to build the thing right. For technical leaders, architects, and managers facing the challenges of continuous adaptation, the architecture for flow framework offers a path forward that balances effectiveness with efficiency, ensuring organizations can deliver sustainable value in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

List of contents

Series Editor Foreword
Foreword
Preface
About the Author
Part I: The Concepts & Fundamentals
Chapter 1: Business Strategy with Wardley Mapping
Chapter 2: Exploring the Problem Space with Strategic Domain-Driven Design and Wardley Mapping
Chapter 3: Designing the Solution Space with Strategic Domain-Driven Design
Chapter 4: Implementing the Domain Model with Tactical Domain-Driven Design
Chapter 5: Optimizing for Flow of Change with Team Topologies
Part II: Architecture for Flow
Chapter 6: Connecting the Dots
Chapter 7: Visualizing Team Perspectives with Wardley Maps
Chapter 8: The Architecture for Flow Canvas
Part III: Evolving a Legacy System for Flow
Chapter 9: Designing a Legacy System for Flow
Chapter 10: Implementing Flow Optimization
Chapter 11: Fostering Continuous Improvement and Driving Future Change
Chapter 12: Conclusion
References
Index

About the author

Susanne Kaiser has more than 20 years of experience in software engineering and software architecture. Her journey began in 2002 and includes working as a startup CTO, where she gained valuable insights into technical, organizational, and strategic challenges. She is an independent tech consultant, supporting organizations in designing, building, and evolving adaptive, socio-technical systems optimized for a fast flow of change. With a deep passion for tackling complex systems, Susanne specializes in connecting the dots between Wardley Mapping, Domain-Driven Design, and Team Topologies. She regularly presents at international tech conferences on this topic.

Summary

Architecture for Flow: Designing Adaptive Socio-Technical Systems
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt to change is not just advantageous--it's essential for survival. Architecture for Flow presents a groundbreaking holistic approach that integrates business strategy, software architecture, and team organization to create adaptive socio-technical systems optimized for continuous change and feedback. By combining Wardley Mapping, Domain-Driven Design, and Team Topologies, this book offers a comprehensive framework for organizations to anticipate change, unlock blockers to flow, and maintain competitive advantage in an increasingly uncertain world.
The book addresses the fundamental challenge facing modern organizations: How to design and build adaptive systems that thrive amid constant change. Drawing from historical examples of companies that failed to adapt--like Blockbuster, Kodak, and Nokia--it emphasizes that optimization requires treating organizations as socio-technical systems where social and technical aspects are aligned and designed together. The Architecture for Flow approach provides practical tools and methodologies for designing systems that can evolve continuously while delivering sustainable value.
Key Topics Covered:

• Business Strategy with Wardley Mapping: Understanding competitive landscapes and anticipating change through strategic visualization
• Strategic Domain-Driven Design: Analyzing problem domains and designing modular solution spaces aligned with business needs
• Tactical Domain-Driven Design: Implementing domain models that keep core business logic decoupled from external changes
• Team Topologies: Optimizing team structures and interactions to reduce bottlenecks and enhance flow
• Architecture for Flow Canvas: A structured approach to combine all three perspectives for assessment and future planning
• Legacy System Evolution: Practical guidance for transforming monolithic systems into adaptive architectures
• Continuous Improvement: Fostering organizational culture that sustains flow and embraces future change

In a world where "the only constant is change," organizations must build systems that can adapt quickly and effectively. This book offers a timely and essential perspective that goes beyond local optimization to address systemic improvement. By aligning business strategy, software architecture, and team organization, this guide provides leaders with the tools to not only build the right thing but to build the thing right. For technical leaders, architects, and managers facing the challenges of continuous adaptation, the architecture for flow framework offers a path forward that balances effectiveness with efficiency, ensuring organizations can deliver sustainable value in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

Product details

• Authors: Susanne Kaiser
• Publisher: Pearson Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 02.12.2024, delayed
• EAN: 9780137393039
• ISBN: 978-0-13-739303-9
• Series: Pearson; Addison-Wesley Signature Serie; Addison-Wesley Signature Series (Vernon)
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > IT, data processing > Programming languages