Non-functional design elements

Delivering a technology project is never for the sake of merely introducing technology. There must be a business case behind your design. The drivers of the business case may require an intensive design, especially if it is for executing strategic transformation. But sometimes, the design objective may be geared more toward ensuring stability. In such cases, as an architect, your role may be limited to ensuring no adverse deviations happen to the existing design, such as system upgrades aimed at keeping the lights on.

For business-driven demands, there are business requirements, while for technology-driven initiatives, there are technical requirements that eventually serve business purposes. For both types, you need to design with requirements that are not necessarily specified within the core motivation; however, they are essential if you wish to implement them successfully and ensure they operate properly. Furthermore, fulfilling these requirements...