44 The Method Framework for Engineering System Architectures
Rationale: e architecture as documented in the architectural representations drives
the downstream design, implementation, integration, testing, operation, maintenance, and
retirement of the system. e architecture implements the architecturally significant require-
ments and thus addresses the architectural concerns. e architectural representations also
support the traceability of requirements to the design, implementation, and tests.
Unless the architecture is properly captured in the architectural representations, it cannot
be properly analyzed, tested, and communicated with its stakeholders. Unless architectural
representations are kept current, they cannot be used ...