Prioritize improvements
No organization has unlimited time and resources. Addressing all identified HRIs and MRIs at once might not be the right way to get the most out of a WAFR.
Start with a selected number of issues that can make the most impact on the business and that are easier to implement. Work on the solution. Track the improvement, and then iterate on that approach.
Prioritize for implementation
One approach that can help you visualize solutions priority is the
Eisenhower-style
plot
The output of this analysis provides a set of risks that have the most impact on your business but are not too complex to implement. These are good candidates to start implementing in the first iteration.
Solution characteristics
When selecting a solution for an identified risk, consider the following:
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SMART goals:
Think of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. -
Owners: For every solution, identify an owner.
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Simple over complex: Complex solutions can work, but they make the improvement more difficult to implement, and they can take longer to create. Choose simplicity over complexity unless the complex solution is a non-negotiable requirement.
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Make two-way door decisions:
Solutions should be extensible and designed to improve and evolve over time. When possible, avoid static solutions that cannot adapt as your architecture develops. -
Target pattern-based solutions: Consider solutions that can be codified, reused, and re-shared. Don't reinvent the wheel. Access the AWS Architecture Center
for examples. -
Work continually as a team: Work as a group to create a list of solutions for the HRIs. Prioritize them in an Eisenhower matrix.
