How to organize a software architecture proposal document

An example from Microsoft:

Post-Avalon Operating Model

CVP Check-in #1

Date: 4/30/2024

Table of Contents

1. Operating model across MSAI, Office AI (AugLoop), Turing, and the Core Copilot Platform Teams:
   1. Operating Principles - write down our approach wrt. tenets, progress, governance, release strategies, differentiation vs. cost leadership, enhancements & extensions, collaboration approach, excelling in the core vs. adapting and innovating
   2. Architecture Governance Council - stakeholder group design, roles, expectations, ICs vs. managers, seniority, expected contributions and work items, decision making process, meeting cadence, change control & reporting methods, escalations
   3. Investing in the Shared Copilot Platform - tracking method for one-off vs. product vs. platform investments, process for proposing work
   4. Empowering M365 Copilots - identifying use cases
   5. Bringing Consumer Features to Enterprise
2. Avalon Phase 2 Plan - sketch out of plan as we currently know it
3. Areas for CVP input/direction - build a risk register, areas that require stakeholder input along with timing & impact / mitigation of risks
4. Appendix - include a table with the foundational design principles for core areas of work: headings are “Functionality Area”, “Design Principles”, and “Value Proposition”