Navigating Key Technical Decisions in a World of Complex Digital Platforms

Given the complexity of modern digital platforms, making sustainable and well-considered Key Technical Decisions (KTDs) is pivotal. Digital development is no longer about simple web builds but managing multi-million dollar, complex platforms featuring advanced architectures and technologies. This shift demands a radical change in our project workflow and decision-making approach. 

In today’s 'product-mode' era, where digital products constantly evolve, the challenges lie in making sustainable technical decisions that enable growth while handling technical debt, documenting choices, and fostering team consensus. 

A strategic framework for decision-making 
Tassos Koutlas, our Deputy VP of Digital Solutions Europe, initiated a structured KTD framework at JAKALA (formerly FFW) to address these challenges. KTDs are strategic and differ from user stories in that they focus on the broader strategy rather than technical minutiae. They encompass four critical sections: governance, context, solutions exploration, and a recorded decision-making dialogue. 

The KTD framework involves: 

• Problem identification: Clearly defining what problems need addressing. 
• Architectural assessment: Determining if the issue is fundamental to the project's architecture. 
• Solution comparison: Weighing multiple solutions to find the optimal path forward. 
• Decision-making: Documenting the decision. 

Central to this approach is an unbiased assessment by an impartial technical partner and close alignment with stakeholders.