Which role is primary in a Disciplined Agile Delivery team?

In a Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) team, the Architecture Owner plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the architecture of the solution aligns with both current and future business needs. This role is crucial as it bridges the gap between technical and business considerations, ensuring that decisions made during the development process do not compromise the overall integrity and direction of the architecture.

The Architecture Owner is responsible for defining and managing the high-level architecture, guiding the team on how to implement it while also making sure that technical debt is managed appropriately. This function is vital in a DAD framework because it allows for agility in development while maintaining a focus on the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the solution being built.

In contrast, while roles like Domain Expert, Integrator, and Specialist are important within a team, they do not carry the same overarching responsibility for guiding the architectural direction and decisions. The Domain Expert focuses on specific knowledge areas, the Integrator works on ensuring that various components work together, and the Specialist typically brings in-depth expertise in a specific area, but none of these roles encapsulate the broader architectural vision required for successful agile delivery within the DAD framework.