Checklist for ServiceNow Architects: 8 Critical Tasks from the Build It The Right Way Approach

[BillMartin]

As ServiceNow architects, we’re expected to design not just functional solutions — but scalable, secure, and resilient ones. That expectation only grows as platforms evolve and stakeholders demand more agility and clarity in delivery.

Over the years, I’ve developed a practical checklist of architectural tasks based on real-world project experience. This became the foundation of the Build It The Right Way Approach,  a framework focused on helping ServiceNow professionals design solutions that stand up to real-world usage, governance, and change.

Here’s a quick look at the eight tasks I now consider essential on every ServiceNow architecture engagement:

1. Solution Design Package

Document a full set of architecture specifications and diagrams that address functional and non-functional requirements, including operational, exception, and recovery use cases.

2. Architecture Diagrams
Create diagrams that show both the high-level landscape and platform-specific details — such as integrations, data models, security layers, and workflow logic.

3. Architecture Decision Record (ADR)
Keep a running log of key architectural decisions, including the rationale behind them. This helps with governance, onboarding, and future design iterations.

4. Team Collaboration
Engage with platform engineers and delivery teams throughout implementation to ensure the architecture vision is realized effectively.

5. Contextual Modeling
Model platform costs, performance, and operational health to give stakeholders a realistic view of the system’s business impact.

6. Optimization Recommendations
Continuously analyze usage and platform behavior to suggest improvements that enhance performance, maintainability, or cost-efficiency.

7. Governance and Compliance
Architect with security, regulatory, and operational compliance in mind. Participate in reviews and audits as needed.

8. Change Advisory Support
Support change planning by assessing the architectural impact, feasibility, and cost of proposed updates.

I walk through this checklist in more detail in a recent video:

Watch: Eight Key ServiceNow Architecture Checklist 

You can also find the full documentation at
https://architecture.buildittherightway.com/design-artifacts/servicenow-architects-checklist

Would love to hear from other architects and platform owners:

What does your architectural process look like today? Do you follow a checklist, template, or framework of your own?

Let’s share ideas and elevate how we build on ServiceNow the right way.

#ServiceNow #Architecture #BuildItTheRightWay #SolutionDesign #PlatformEngineering #DigitalTransformation #Governance #ServiceNowArchitect