A weak signal is an uncertain or subjective indicator of an emerging change, trend, or evolutionary state.
A weak signal is an uncertain, partly subjective indicator used to assess how an emerging capability or component is evolving. It supports judgment rather than a precise, mechanical classification. section 5.3.1
Assess weak signals through three characteristics:
Ubiquity: determine whether the capability is rare, increasingly consumed, or widespread and stabilizing. section 5.3.1
Certainty: judge whether its use is poorly understood, rapidly being learned, increasingly fit for purpose, or commonly understood. section 5.3.1
Online food delivery
A menu is widespread and commonly understood, so it appears close to commodity. Restaurant optimization is newer: only one or two organizations are developing it, while the industry experiments with its use. section 5.3.1
How Architecture Modernization: Socio-technical alignment of software, strategy, and structure covers it
How deep it goes
Defines three characteristics and their criteria, but stops short of a precise flowchart or objective classification.
Examples
Uses online food delivery menus and restaurant optimization to contrast commodity capabilities with emerging capabilities.
What it assumes
Assumes industry expertise and practice skill while supplying criteria for judging ubiquity, certainty, and publication types.
What you can do after
Evaluate a component’s evolutionary stage using ubiquity, certainty, publication types, and informed industry judgment.
How it connects
Connects Wardley Mapping with evolution, ubiquity, certainty, genesis, custom-built, product, and commodity.
signalkind of · A signal is an observable value, event, or pattern that conveys information about a condition, state, or phenomenon.
This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Architecture Modernization: Socio-technical alignment of software, strategy, and structure. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.
