Architecture is a business asset that deserves explicit investment and care to generate long term benefits. Let me explain.
Software architecture is as important as functionality, at least in the long run. Sounds reasonable. I asked more than 1000 technical people in the last year if they agree with this statement, and they overwhelmingly do so. But, what does this actually mean?
As the functionality of a system is recognized as a business asset, it follows that architecture of that system is a business asset as well. And they both should be approached with the same rigor.