Through the Looking Glass: Applying Architecture Principles to Social Systems

Conway’s Law (and the Mirroring Hypothesis) states that software architectures mirror the communication structures of the organizations that create them. The Reverse Conway is a theory which suggests that we consider architectural structures during organizational design efforts. The implications of these insights are often left as an exercise for the reader.

If we aim to build composable, scalable, and resilient technical architectures, shouldn’t the social systems creating them embody the same qualities? This talk explores how architectural qualities—such as scalability, composability, reliability, and observability—can be transposed onto social systems. By jointly optimizing both sides of the mirror, organizations can foster collaboration, innovation, and resilience.