Successful IT application architecture design: an empirical study

Abstract

The technical architecture of an IT application is a critical determinant of its successful development. Complementing the software engineering viewpoint, this paper adopts a broader perspective to the design of IT applications and subsequent project success. It reports on a recent empirical study of factors that influence the design of IT application architectures. It identifies five influencing factors that are significantly associated with variation in the time-budget performance of the subsequent development project. Further, it finds that the projects can be classified according to these five attributes into four types that exhibit clear performance differences. The paper infers recommendations for good practice in IT application architecture design, contributes a detailed instrument for research into the area, compares with findings from software engineering, and raises issues for further study.