What's the Worst Architectural Advice You've Ever Heard?

What's the Worst Architectural Advice You've Ever Heard?

Every architect has heard advice that sounded convincing on the surface. But in reality, it would have destroyed an organization if someone had actually followed it.

Some "classics" I've heard over the years:

"We don't need architecture. We just need to go faster."

"Let's build it once the right way - it will never change."

"We should standardize everything. Everywhere. Always."

"Governance slows us down, so let's remove it."

"Documentation? We'll remember it."

The funny part? None of these statements come from bad intentions. They come from misunderstanding complexity, ignoring consequences, or overestimating certainty.

The worst architectural advice is always the one that:

oversimplifies reality

ignores context

promises shortcuts

or pretends change won't happen

Great architecture lives in context, intent, and alignment. Not in absolute statements.

What's the worst architectural advice YOU ever heard?

Read the original LinkedIn post.