Growing Architects
Kevin Francis
Practices Manager
Object Consulting
My journey Architecture:
• Types of Architects• Architecture Career Paths• Architect skill requirements
Growing Architects:• Skills development• Organisational requirements
What We Will CoverAre you in the right session?
My BackgroundWhy should I be talking about this?
Developer and Operations Architect and Consultant Enterprise Architect Project Manager and Business Owner Principal Architect Delivery Manager Executive – Strategic Management MVP and Community Work
Architecture Career Paths
5 Solution Architect
Application Architect
Application Architect
Application Architect
Data Architect
User Interface Architect
Application Architect
Types of ArchitectsIt isn't all about code…
User Interface
Business Layer
Application
Application
SupplierDatabase
Business Layer
Business Layer
Business Layer
Integration Architect
Infrastructure Architect
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Paths into ArchitectureIt still isn't all about code…
Developer
Solution Architect
UI Architect
Business Analyst
Almost Anyone
Business Analyst
IT Support
Snr Data Architect
SOA Architect
Snr Project
Manager
Infrastructure Manager
Integration Architect
Data Architect
Project Manager
Infrastructure Architect
Application Architect
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Paths from ArchitectureYou can't be an architect forever
Delivery Manager, etc
Infrastructure Manager, etc
CTOCIO Other Executive
Infrastructure Manager
SOA Architect
Snr Data Architect
Snr Project
Manager
Solution Architect
Enterprise Architect or Consultant
Architecture Skills
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What is Architecture?It's all about technology, right?
Designing all or part of a system to meet the functional and non-functional requirements
Designing the delivery approach Managing risk Delivering to budget Managing stakeholders Managing change Contracts Explaining what needs to be done Managing the development team
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Intrinsic Architect Traits
Inventive - can see through the problem Good communicator – can sell the solution Strategic thinker – can see the big picture Forthright – can push forwards when the going
gets hard.
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What Makes a Good Architect?The hard stuff
Technology knowledge: • Technologies – broad and narrow• Product stack• Scalability• Security – inside and outside the network• Reliability
Design capabilities:• Patterns and practices• SOA, UI design, workflow
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What Makes a Good Architect?The sort-of soft stuff
Project Management skills:• Scope management• Change management• Requirements management• Contract management• Estimation• Schedule management
Methodologies. That’s plural. Test Approaches & Management
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What Makes a Good Architect?The soft stuff
Presentation skills Team leading skills Mentoring skills Excellent writing skills Excellent communication skills
Growing Architects
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Developers to ArchitectsAn Architect isn't just a smart Developer
Technical things Architects need:• The whole picture• Detail in part of the picture• Patterns and practices• The product stack
Non-technical things:• Leadership skills• Communication skills• Project management
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Developers to ArchitectsWhat should developers learn?
Patterns and Practices The product stacks etc Methodologies Architecture Training Project Management Training Consider communications training Encourage involvement within and outside
projects Encourage developers to grow beyond code
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Creating an Architecture Team Build a team structure Put the right people at the top of the structure Build a career progression plan
• Training• Skills• Projects
Encourage the right behaviours• KPIs• Recognition
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Creating an Architecture Team Build an Architecture Practice Build a Mentoring framework Use progression plans to encourage broader
skills. Develop KPI’s to encourage behaviour Use Web 2.0 tools to encourage interaction Architecture BOK – Process Mentor
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Contact Points
Email: [email protected] Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/architecture/
Object: www.objectconsulting.com.au Process Mentor: www.processmentor.com