Technology radar - Enterprise architecture management

What is a technology radar?

A Technology Radar is a dynamic visual tool used by organizations to map, evaluate, and manage their portfolio of technologies. Originally popularized by Thoughtworks, it acts as a strategic compass for Enterprise Architects and engineering teams, helping them align on which tools, platforms, and frameworks the company should invest in, experiment with, or phase out.

Typically, a Technology Radar is divided into four quadrants (e.g., Techniques, Platforms, Tools, and Languages/Frameworks) and organizes these items into four concentric rings based on their current lifecycle stage within the company:

• Adopt: Technologies that are highly mature, proven, and serve as the absolute standard for enterprise use.
• Trial: Technologies that have proven successful in isolated areas and are ready to be used on a broader scale or in specific new projects.
• Assess: Emerging trends or new tools that are promising and should be explored or prototyped to understand their potential impact.
• Hold: Legacy technologies that are being phased out, or new tools that have proven unsuitable, meaning they should not be used for new projects.

By providing a clear, single-pane-of-glass view of the technological landscape, the radar helps companies balance innovation with stability, avoid redundant software, and make informed IT governance decisions.

Example

Figure: Technology radar example