In neighborly discussions in Melbourne each spring, the question may be asked, “Got your tomatoes in yet?”. Responses may directly quote grandparents’ adages, “Not until after cup day”[1], or “Only after Remembrance Day[2]”. Some of the more daring of us will plant them early, risking the chance of a late frost.

I always plant a small crop and for years have been trialling different ways of supporting and managing the growing vines and (hopefully) the weighty addition of ripening fruit. From the traditional hardwood stake to the more aesthetic (and kinder on the vines) bamboo stake, to the purpose-built stakes with cage add-ons – I have tried them all. For the last 2 years I have landed on an approach (known as the String Trellis) that I think is the best for several reasons:

1.      It combines the strength of a structure that provides strong support for the weight of ripening fruit with;

2.      Loosely fitting twine that hangs from the structure, loops around the bottom of the plant and as it grows is wrapped around the vine.

While this approach takes a bit longer to establish, once set it up, it is strong, the twine can be tightened of loosened as the growth of the vine demands, and rather that spend longer performing the risky job (vines can break easily) of repeatably tying each individual vine as it grows to each stake, I simply twist the twine around the plant as it grows. This approach is also adaptable. As I like to plant different types of tomatoes, each has different growth heights and fruit size and weight. The twine supporting each individual plant, supports and carry’s the different weights of each vine, distributed through the structure that supports the entire crop.

Bamboo and twine

I’m sure you can see I’m setting up quite an obvious analogy so, the first thing built is the structure (trellis) that will support the plants as they grow. In architecture terms, we can think of this as a framework that will support the capabilities and processes (not necessarily a branded framework, method or the latest EA offering) but elaborated enough to be able to handle and adapt to the strategic (young plants are small) through to where we want the business to go (large plants full of ripe fruit).   

Bamboo & twine = framework & architecture

The twine is the actual architecture that supports the business. The bamboo and twine analogy fits well because:

1.      Any architectural endeavor has an upfront cost (time and effort). To tie the twine to the framework and loop around the bottom of each plant takes some time, to put in place an architecture to support a business plan, also takes some time.

2.      Once in place, however, a good architecture (as it is supported by the framework) adapts and fits to the growing business with little intervention. It carry’s and supports as the business grows rather than stifling and preventing growth.

3.      The upfront cost is more than recouped as the response to the growing vine is simply to twist the growth tip around the twine. Compared to other methods (for the analogy let’s label them accidental architecture), where intervention is required to tie the vine to the stake, which is more time and labour intensive and as the vine grows longer and heavy with fruit, poses the risk of damaging the vine, this method clearly wins.

Finally, good architecture (in the context being described here) is an elegant pleasing solution. You don’t see the twine as the plant grows and matures, but it is there supporting the vine, similarly you don’t necessarily see good architecture and it’s benefits, but if it exists in an enterprise, the results should be clear.

 Crop Management

You can grow tomatoes without any support, but the vine is much more susceptible to disease (fungal and parasitic) let alone the fruit that becomes prime food for slugs, snails and other pests.

Similarly, you can run a small to medium size enterprise without considering good architecture. Yes, the business can grow, and for a while without the overheads and up-front investment in a planned architecture, but add the need to pivot, diversify, respond to market changes and the accidental architecture benefits quickly become deficits.

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[1] Melbourne Cup horse raise held on the first Tuesday of November

[2] Remembrance on the 11th of November marks the cessation of hostilities of WW1