Abstract

The ISO/EIC 42010 system architecture description standard evolved over a number of years with substantial practitioner inputs. It presents a high level, top-down view of requirements that may be interpreted as needed for different applications. Agile system development methods have proved effective in practice, but represent a bottom up view drawing on user stories. The question considered in this paper is how they might be harmonised. Experience from using these tools over several years in practical masters degree student projects has been used to explore this question. We suggest a logical compatibility lies in their core themes: stakeholder needs (who) frame architecture descriptions (what) and the associated rationale (why). A particular interpretation of ISO/EIC 42010 and a model outlining the evolution of architecture in an agile environment are presented. Several suggestions for future research are made.

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