Four metaphors of architecture in software organizations: finding out the meaning of architecture in practice

Current literature, research, and practice provide ambiguous meanings for the concept of architecture in the context of software and systems development. This qualitative and grounded theory based study delves into the practice of architecture design and description in three software-producing organizations. Nineteen architects, designers, and managers are interviewed and the general meanings of architecture in practical real-life situations are distilled and analyzed The ambiguity of the concept of architecture receives its explanation. Architecture emerges as a plastic concept including diverging and simultaneous connotations for different stakeholders. The research process produces four general metaphors for architecture, "architecture as blueprint", "architecture as literature", "architecture as language", and "architecture as decision". These metaphors and the research process are presented and discussed in detail.