December 2022 - devmanager

Domain-driven design is a software development approach emphasizing the importance of understanding the business domain to design effective software solutions.

At the heart of this approach is the idea that software development should be driven by the needs and constraints of the business domain, rather than being driven purely by technical considerations.

Understand the business

One key aspect of domain-driven design is the use of domains to structure the design of a software system.

A domain is a specific area of knowledge or expertise, such as customer management or inventory management.

By starting with a clear understanding of the business domains that a software system will need to support, it becomes much easier to design software components that are well-suited to the needs of the business.

Software components supporting the domain

Once the domains have been identified and understood, the next step is to move down to the level of software components.

These are the individual pieces of software that make up the system and should be designed to reduce the cognitive load on the team.

Each component should be designed to be as self-contained and easy to understand as possible, so that team members can focus on their areas of expertise without being bogged down by complex dependencies or unfamiliar concepts.

Team topologies

When designing a team, there are a few different topologies to consider.

One option is the stream-aligned team, which is focused on a specific business domain or set of related domains.

This can be a good choice when the business domain is relatively simple, and there is a precise alignment between the business goals and the software requirements.

Another option is the platform team, which is focused on building reusable software components that can be shared across multiple business domains.

This can be a good choice when the business has a wide range of domains that need to be supported and when there are significant opportunities for reuse and code sharing.

Finally, there are complicated subsystem teams focused on building large, complex software systems made up of many interconnected components.

This can be a good choice when the business has complex requirements requiring a highly specialized team to implement.

Overall, the key to success with domain-driven team design is to start by understanding the business domains the software will need to support and then design software components and teams that are well-suited to these domains.

By doing so, it is possible to build software systems that are effective, maintainable, and easy to understand, which can help to reduce the cognitive load on the team and improve overall team productivity

Have you ever noticed how using the word “they” can create a sense of separation and division within an organization?

It’s almost as if you can see the wall being built between groups when they refer to each other as “they.” But what if we told you that changing just one word – “they” to “we” – could help break down those walls and promote unity within your team? This idea is explored in depth in the book “Leadership is Language” by David Marquet.

Using “we” instead of “they” can have a powerful impact on team dynamics and help foster a more cohesive and collaborative environment.

When you use “we,” you are including yourself in the group and implying that you are all working towards a common goal.

It sends a message that you are all in this together and willing to support and help each other.

For example, let’s say a team needs help with meeting deadlines. Instead of saying, “they need to work faster,” a more practical approach might be to say, “we need to find ways to improve our efficiency and meet these deadlines.”

This shift in language acknowledges that the problem affects the entire team and encourages everyone to be a part of the solution.

It also aligns with extreme ownership, where each team member takes responsibility for their actions and works to find ways within their control to do better.

On the other hand, using “they” can create a sense of distance and disconnection within a team. It suggests that there are “us” and “them” and that you are not a part of the same team.

This can lead to a breakdown in communication and a lack of trust between team members.

So next time you find yourself using “they,” try swapping it out for “we” instead.

It may seem like a small change, but it can significantly affect how your team functions and works together.

Collaboration icons created by Freepik – Flaticon