Facilitating Software Architecture

Chapter 12. The Art of Deciding

The practice of deciding is more than determining that a decision is needed, identifying options, seeking advice, and ultimately selecting a decision. Deciding also involves working with the tender aspects of human nature, such as emotions, feelings, and creativity. These softer aspects aren’t easily defined or predicted.

This chapter focuses on this softer side, revealing how human aspects—both personal and interpersonal—affect our decisions and considering how framing, creativity, bias, and fear, all play important roles in the art of deciding. Within the context of the ADR-supported decision process, I’ll explore how these human aspects affect the context first, then the options and consequences, and finally the taking of decisions, while not forgetting their role in advice seeking throughout all of this.

The Importance of the Softer Side

As software professionals, we tell ourselves that the act of deciding is a purely intellectual one. The architectural practice of deciding does include a great deal of facts and thinking. But it also—if you listen to others—is an incredibly social and creative act. This listening doesn’t come as easily to many of us.

I know from experience that holding diverse ideas in our minds at the same time can feel incongruous, uncomfortable, or even impossible. However, the advice process and ADRs are a great help. The process helps us conceptually limit the scope through framing and improve our ability to engage others’ ...