Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This presentation was recorded at YOW! Australia 2025. #GOTOcon #YOW
yowcon.com
Andrew Harmel-Law - Technical Principal at Thoughtworks & Author of "Facilitating Software Architecture" @AndrewHarmelLaw
ORIGINAL TALK TITLE
Facilitating Software Architecture: Empowering Teams to Make Architectural Decisions
RESOURCES
https://bsky.app/profile/andrewhl.bsky.social
https://twit.social/@ahl
https://x.com/al94781
github.com/andrewharmellaw
linkedin.com/in/andrewharmellaw
andrewharmellaw.github.io
Links
facilitatingsoftwarearchitecture.com
martinfowler.com/articles/scaling-architecture-conversationally.html
ABSTRACT
In this talk, Andrew explores key concepts from his book, fostering decentralized sociotechnical systems, emphasizing the importance of embracing imperfection in decision-making, and combating cognitive biases like the framing effect. He will highlight the shift to prioritizing learning, adaptability, and small, fast iterations in socio-technical systems.
Andrew will also discuss psychological safety as vital for empowering teams to innovate while maintaining accountability, advocating for experimentation and collective ownership of evolving codebases. He will underline the importance of balancing creativity and structure to build resilient, adaptive systems that thrive in complexity. [...]
TIMECODES
00:00 Intro
05:02 Short version:Thinking like a software architect
15:56 Long version
18:24 Lightweight ADRs (Architecture Decision Records)
29:22 Architectural advice forum
36:19 How to fail
40:30 Summary
41:35 Outro
Download slides and read the full abstract here:
yowcon.com/brisbane-2025/sessions/3886
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Andrew Harmel-Law • Facilitating Software Architecture • https://amzn.eu/d/5kZKVfU
Gregor Hohpe • The Software Architect Elevator • amzn.to/3F6d2ax
Barry O'Reilly • Residues • leanpub.com/residuality
Barry O'Reilly • The Architect's Paradox • leanpub.com/architectsparadox
https://bsky.app/profile/gotocon.com
linkedin.com/company/goto-
instagram.com/goto_con
facebook.com/GOTOConferences
#SoftwareArchitecture #ArchitectureTeam #ADR #ArchitectureDecisionRecord #Microservices #ContinuousDelivery #PlatformEngineering #ArchitectsParadox #EmpoweringTeams #FacilitatingSoftware #TodayInTech #AndrewHarmelLaw #YOWcon
CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join
Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket at https://gotopia.tech
Sign up for updates and specials at https://gotopia.tech/newsletter
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL - new videos posted almost daily.
youtube.com/user/GotoConferences/?sub_confirmation=1
This presentation was recorded at YOW! Australia 2025. #GOTOcon #YOW
yowcon.com
Andrew Harmel-Law - Technical Principal at Thoughtworks & Author of "Facilitating Software Architecture" @AndrewHarmelLaw
ORIGINAL TALK TITLE
Facilitating Software Architecture: Empowering Teams to Make Architectural Decisions
RESOURCES
https://bsky.app/profile/andrewhl.bsky.social
https://twit.social/@ahl
https://x.com/al94781
github.com/andrewharmellaw
linkedin.com/in/andrewharmellaw
andrewharmellaw.github.io
Links
facilitatingsoftwarearchitecture.com
martinfowler.com/articles/scaling-architecture-conversationally.html
ABSTRACT
In this talk, Andrew explores key concepts from his book, fostering decentralized sociotechnical systems, emphasizing the importance of embracing imperfection in decision-making, and combating cognitive biases like the framing effect. He will highlight the shift to prioritizing learning, adaptability, and small, fast iterations in socio-technical systems.
Andrew will also discuss psychological safety as vital for empowering teams to innovate while maintaining accountability, advocating for experimentation and collective ownership of evolving codebases. He will underline the importance of balancing creativity and structure to build resilient, adaptive systems that thrive in complexity. [...]
TIMECODES
00:00 Intro
05:02 Short version:Thinking like a software architect
15:56 Long version
18:24 Lightweight ADRs (Architecture Decision Records)
29:22 Architectural advice forum
36:19 How to fail
40:30 Summary
41:35 Outro
Download slides and read the full abstract here:
yowcon.com/brisbane-2025/sessions/3886
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Andrew Harmel-Law • Facilitating Software Architecture • https://amzn.eu/d/5kZKVfU
Gregor Hohpe • The Software Architect Elevator • amzn.to/3F6d2ax
Barry O'Reilly • Residues • leanpub.com/residuality
Barry O'Reilly • The Architect's Paradox • leanpub.com/architectsparadox
https://bsky.app/profile/gotocon.com
linkedin.com/company/goto-
instagram.com/goto_con
facebook.com/GOTOConferences
#SoftwareArchitecture #ArchitectureTeam #ADR #ArchitectureDecisionRecord #Microservices #ContinuousDelivery #PlatformEngineering #ArchitectsParadox #EmpoweringTeams #FacilitatingSoftware #TodayInTech #AndrewHarmelLaw #YOWcon
CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join
Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket at https://gotopia.tech
Sign up for updates and specials at https://gotopia.tech/newsletter
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL - new videos posted almost daily.
youtube.com/user/GotoConferences/?sub_confirmation=1
