PREFACE
Compositions for our future need to be coordinated, flexible and constantly aware of the environment and surroundings – be it for proximity, personalization, privacy, security, cyber threats, or other needs and incursions.
In this article we define a themed framework for composable architecture based on:
- Constitute – A Constitution outlining the purpose and goals. This answers the “why”.
- Institute – A Manifesto that defines the guiding principles, the should conditions for prescribing the needs. This answers the “who”, “what”, “when” and “where”.
- Synthesize – The Progression that details the “how” to build the solution and its mature evolution via MVP based iterative sequencing
Here are our constitution, manifesto and agile-based progression definitions that in no small measure will enable us to compose, create and achieve our goals for harmonious interacting solutions.
What is the difference between a constitution and a manifesto?
A constitution and a manifesto are two different types of documents that serve distinct purposes.
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. It lays out the framework for how the government is structured, how laws are made, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Constitutions are typically written documents that are often difficult to change, and they provide a framework for stable and predictable governance.
A constitution typically has several parts, including:
- Preamble: An introduction that outlines the purpose and goals of the constitution. In terms of a constitution, a preamble is an introductory statement that sets forth the purpose, goals, and underlying principles of the document. It usually appears at the beginning of the constitution and provides a brief overview of the purpose and intent of the constitution. The preamble often serves as a guidepost for the interpretation of the constitution’s provisions and helps to establish the context in which the constitution should be understood. In many cases, the preamble is considered to be an essential part of the constitution, and its words may carry great weight in legal and political discussions of the constitution’s meaning and application.
- Articles: The main body of the constitution, which outlines the framework for the government or organization, including the powers and duties of its branches or departments.
- Amendments: The process by which the constitution can be amended or changed.
- Bill of Rights: A list of fundamental rights and freedoms that are protected by the constitution.
- Executive Summary: A brief overview of the key provisions and goals of the constitution.
- Definitions: A section that provides definitions of important terms and concepts used in the constitution.
- Interpretation: A section that outlines how the constitution should be interpreted and applied.
- Ratification: The process by which the constitution is formally adopted and becomes the law of the land.
On the other hand, a manifesto is a public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions, often issued by a political party or candidate before an election. It outlines a vision for the future and the changes the party or candidate wants to make if they are elected to power. Manifestos are usually flexible and can be updated or modified as needed based on changing circumstances.
A manifesto typically includes the following parts:
- Introduction: A brief overview of the purpose and goals of the manifesto.
- Vision statement: A clear and concise statement of the ideal future state that the manifesto aims to achieve.
- Core values: A list of the values that the manifesto upholds and prioritizes.
- Guiding principles: A set of principles that guide the actions and decision-making processes related to the manifesto’s goals.
- Objectives: Specific and measurable goals that the manifesto aims to achieve.
- Action plan: A detailed plan outlining the steps that will be taken to achieve the objectives.
- Call to action: A call to action for those who share the manifesto’s vision to join the movement and work towards the common goal.
In summary, the main difference between a constitution and a manifesto is that a constitution is a foundational document that outlines the principles and framework for governance, while a manifesto is a statement of policies and intentions that a political party or candidate wants to implement if they are elected to power.
From Pi.ai:
A constitution defines the “do’s” and “don’ts” of a government, organization, or entity, as it establishes the framework for its operations and the rules that govern its members or citizens. The constitution outlines the specific powers, limitations, and processes that must be followed, essentially providing a blueprint for how the entity should function.
On the other hand, manifestos primarily outline the “should” conditions – they express the beliefs, goals, and values that a political party, movement, or individual stands for. Manifestos serve as a public declaration of intentions and desired outcomes, often inspiring action and shaping the overall direction of a group or organization.
So, in essence, constitutions provide the foundation for governance and operational structures by defining the “do’s” and “don’ts,” while manifestos express ideological goals and values, focusing more on the “should” conditions.
CONSTITUTION VS MANIFESTO FOR AN ENTERPRISE
A constitution (principles, and do’s and don’ts) is a document that outlines the principles, structures, and functions, as well as the rights and duties of the users. It serves as the supreme law of the land and establishes the legal framework within which an enterprise operates. It may also specify the powers and responsibilities of different branches of enterprise, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
A manifesto (should conditions) is a document that outlines the goals, values, and functionalities of a solution, product or service. It may be used to create product brochures, landing pages, user manuals and troubleshooting steps. A manifesto may also include the probable maturity of the solution in what is called a master plan.
CONSTITUTE, INSTITUTE THEN CONSTRUCT
Constitute, institute then construct will be our philosophy for composing the new where we assemble the necessary constituents to enable our builds. Our ecosystem will be governed by a set of principles that we will deem the constitution. Our products and services on the other hand will be based on functionalities that is a defined set of conditions in the manifesto.
Thus, In our case:
- CONSTITUTION – Reference Architecture, Guidebook, or playbook the basis for theming and maturing technological implementations. It will seek to answer the the Why, Who, What, Where and When of the elements of circumstances.
- MANIFESTO – A series of should conditions to enable functionality and/or operations of a product or service. This answers the HOW and helps maturing the solution in what is called the Master Plan.
The use of a constitution and a manifesto as part of our product development process can be the precursor to setting up a governing and change management structure for future iterations of the product as we progress towards manufacturing, marketing, and sales.
I am describing a new type of composable architecture that will be defined symbolically that one can speak to – parlante in French/Spanish. For this I am building the basis for why, who, what where and when using what I call the constitution, and the should conditions for the implementation of the design (the how) that I call the manifesto. The Constitution will be based on Axiomatic principles whereas the Manifesto will define the Master Plan – the cadence/progression of the solution. Can you help me detail this more elaborately?
Sure, I can help you elaborate on the concept of your composable architecture and how you plan to use a constitution and manifesto to guide its design and implementation.
Firstly, you mention that your architecture will be defined symbolically such that it can be spoken to (parlante). This suggests that your architecture will be designed in a way that makes it easy for stakeholders to understand and communicate about it, even if they don’t have a technical background. This is an important aspect of ensuring that your architecture is accessible and usable for a wide range of users.
Secondly, you mention that you will use a constitution and manifesto to guide the design and implementation of your architecture. The constitution will define the foundational principles and framework for how your architecture will be designed and used. This could include defining the scope and purpose of your architecture, as well as outlining key principles for its design and implementation. These principles could be based on axiomatic principles, which are self-evident truths that form the basis for logical reasoning.
The manifesto, on the other hand, will define the master plan for the implementation of your architecture. This could include defining the key features and functionality of your architecture, as well as outlining a roadmap for how it will be designed, built, and deployed. The manifesto will also describe the “should conditions” for the implementation of the design, which refers to the requirements and constraints that must be met in order for the design to be successful.
In terms of the “why, who, what, where, and when” aspects of your architecture, you could use the constitution and manifesto to address each of these elements. For example:
- Why: The constitution could define the overarching purpose and goals of your architecture, as well as its intended benefits and impact on stakeholders.
- Who: The manifesto could describe the target users and stakeholders of your architecture, as well as their needs and requirements.
- What: The manifesto could define the key features and functionality of your architecture, as well as the technologies and tools that will be used to implement it.
- Where: The manifesto could describe the intended deployment and usage scenarios for your architecture, as well as any location-specific considerations that need to be taken into account.
- When: The manifesto could outline a timeline and roadmap for the design, development, testing, and deployment of your architecture, as well as any key milestones or deliverables that need to be met along the way.
Overall, the use of a constitution and manifesto can help to provide a clear and structured approach to the design and implementation of your composable architecture. By defining the foundational principles and master plan for its design and implementation, you can ensure that your architecture is well-designed, well-understood, and well-suited to the needs of its users and stakeholders.
By establishing a clear framework for collaboration and a shared understanding of the intended functionality and features of the product, we lay the foundation for a strong governance structure that can help to ensure that our product development efforts remain focused and aligned with our goals. This can include defining roles and responsibilities, establishing communication protocols, and setting expectations for decision-making and change management.
As we move towards manufacturing and marketing the product, you can build on this governance structure by establishing processes and procedures for quality control, risk management, and customer feedback. This can help to ensure that the product meets the needs and expectations of our customers, while also providing a solid foundation for future iterations and updates of the product.
SUMMARY
Overall, the use of a constitution, manifesto and construct as part of our product development process can help to establish a strong governance and change management structure that can support the success of your product both in the short and long term.
The constitution helps to define the overarching goals and objectives of the project, while the manifesto provides a clear roadmap for achieving those goals. This can help to ensure that everyone involved in the project is aligned and working towards the same objectives.
Using an agile scrum-based construct with MVP-based steps can also be a powerful way to develop solutions. This allows for iterative development, with each iteration building on the work done in the previous iteration. This can help to ensure that the solution is continuously improving and evolving and can also help to manage risk by allowing for early detection and correction of issues.
Overall, the approach of using a constitution, manifesto, and agile scrum-based development with MVP-based steps can be an effective way to deliver compelling solutions. However, it is important to note that the success of any development process depends on a range of factors, including the skills and experience of the team, the quality of the tools and technologies used, and the nature of the problem being solved.
Subsequent articles evolving our strategy, go-forward plan and detailed methodologies will comprise of the intersection of our constitution with the specific manifesto to develop and implement solutions.
On a personal note, my goal in all this is to architect the future. Today I am in the process of building an amazing team along with a reference blueprint that are connecting the physical (product) with the digital and the biologic processes, using AI, Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics and a variant called Existential Intelligence (EI). The plan is to extend it to include direct interactions with the Mind. Overly ambitious as this sounds, we as a civilization have reached a stage to consider these innovations as not only feasible but achievable in the not too-distant future of our own lifetimes.
NITIN UCHIL Founder, CEO & Technical Evangelist
nitin.uchil@numorpho.com