 | Level: Introductory Danielle Ruest (architectures@reso-net.com), Senior IT Enterprise Architect (EITA), Resolutions Enterprises
Nelson Ruest (architectures@reso-net.com), Senior IT Enterprise Architect (EITA), Resolutions Enterprises
09 May 2006 A new role is developing in IT shops around the world: the enterprise IT architect. Discover why this role is critical for your software development team, and your entire organization, to move forward. Learn which skill sets are required for this position and the role an enterprise IT architect plays in assisting chief information officers (CIOs) and other decision makers in providing high-quality IT services. And get direction on how to get certified as an IT architect.
The role of the enterprise IT architect
There's a new kid on the block in information technology (IT) shops around the world. It's the IT architect -- the person who can transform business requirements into concrete IT realizations. With the rapid growth of emerging technologies and well-connected organizations relying on Web services and open standards to provide up-to-the-minute
IT solutions for global business requirements, IT has had to respond with the creation of a single new position: the enterprise IT architect (EITA). After all, it isn't technology that solves business problems, it's human beings -- skilled people who understand
the intricacies of a business issue as well as the complexity of potential information technologies that can be linked to
resolve the problem.
The concept of an IT architecture or of the position of EITA isn't new. In fact, in every IT project, there should always be an architecture first and foremost. Compare it to building a house: If you don't have a plan to start with, the house will never get done. And if it does, the final product won't be anything like you imagined and probably won't be very functional. It's the same
with IT projects. An IT project that doesn't start with a proper architecture is doomed to fail. Just like the house you
want to build, an IT architecture helps you plan for system design, security, and protection --
helping you create a solid, stable construct that can weather the test of time.
Map your vision to a design process
So, what does it take to be an EITA? First, it requires vision, or the ability to fully understand a business
requirement, and then to match that vision to available tools and technologies to create a long-lasting solution. This skill
is mostly evident in the enterprise IT architecture process, or the process of designing an enterprise solution
to a specific business problem. It goes like this:
- Someone iterates a business requirement. (The requirement can be as complex as automating a supply chain among
multiple vendors or creating an integrated workflow for automating the purchasing process.)
- This business requirement is handed off to the EITA. ("Do something with this, and do it yesterday" is the usual
form the request takes. It is then up to the EITA to begin formulating a solution.)
- The EITA identifies the key stakeholders for this project. (This step requires a good understanding of the business itself.)
- The EITA must interview these key stakeholders to identify the components of the business process that can help
solve the request. (This step includes not only the process that's required but also the players involved and their
roles in the process.)
- The EITA finalizes the business process definition. (The stakeholders review it to ensure that everyone is on the
same page.)
- When the business process is accepted, the EITA can create the initial budget for the project. (This budget will be
refined as the solution is designed.)
- The EITA begins to look at potential solutions. (First, the EITA must review what is currently available in house.
Ideally, the entire in-house IT architecture will be fully defined and will be readily available to the EITA.)
- Next, the EITA must determine whether the organization can support the solution implementation using existing
capabilities or whether new capabilities are required.
- Identifying the required technologies lets the EITA refine the budget requirements.
- With refined budgets in hand, the EITA can provide the key stakeholders with a solution proposal. (This proposal is
made in the form of a meeting in which the EITA provides documentation about the solution. The outcome of this meeting
is a "go" or "no go" for the project.)
This process is illustrated in Figure 1. Although the EITA's job is far from done at this point, the elaboration of
solutions of this type is one of the principal tasks an EITA handles.
Figure 1. The enterprise IT architecture process
It's lonely at the top
That's right. As an EITA, you'll often find yourself in a position where you're presenting a solution that no one is ready for. This is where the enterprise IT architecture process comes in handy. But, to be able to fulfill this process, you need
specific skills -- the first of which, as mentioned earlier, is the ability to visualize business processes and potential
IT solutions. In addition to this core skill, you need the following:
- Change-management skills. The second most important skill is the ability to listen. EITAs must be good
listeners, because no one likes change. Sometimes, this means that people aren't ready to accept the solutions
you propose. So, take the time to listen to their needs -- both professional and personal -- and propose amendments
to your solutions that take those needs into account.
- Leadership. EITAs also need leadership skills, or the ability to provide direction during discussions and
use solid interview skills to ask the right questions -- questions that immediately go to the heart of the matter,
helping others visualize and understand the issue at hand.
- Communication skills. Another important skill is the ability to communicate complex requirements in terms
that every stakeholder can understand. The ability to "vulgarize" technological concepts in both oral and written
communication can probably make or break any proposed solution. Often, this skill translates into the ability to
illustrate key concepts and workflows in a clear manner.
- Technological know-how. Of course, no other skill can supplement comprehensive technological expertise.
Without this essential skill, no architect worthy of the name can even begin to propose any sort of solution.
One of the best possible skill sets architects can have at this level is knowledge derived from having held many different
positions within the IT organization. The best architects will have held operations, help desk support, systems
administration, IT management, training, development, and other, similar positions within IT. This broad experience puts
them in the unique position of having first-hand knowledge of the various IT roles, ensuring that the solutions
they propose take every aspect of IT into consideration.
- Extensive training. While formal training is not an absolute requirement for EITAs, it is important that
candidates understand advanced architectural concepts, such as those proposed through official organizations such
as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), architectural frameworks such as those proposed
by Zachman and The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF), and the standards outlined by the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Of course, technical training in various IT fields is also essential.
- Organizational skills. Finally, EITAs need strong organizational skills to provide continued leadership as proposals unfurl into projects. The success of every IT project relies on a myriad of little details. Making
sure that these details are taken care of during the execution of the project will make the difference between
a successful undertaking and a total failure.
While this list of the skills an EITA requires isn't exhaustive, it does provide a good starting point for the evaluation of
potential architect candidates.
Do you have what it takes?
You're confident you've got what it takes when it comes to enterprise IT architecture. So prove it. The best way to do that is to go through an official IT architecture certification program. While several such
programs are available, The Open Group IT Architect Certification Program stands out. This
program provides two levels of certification: Certified IT Architect and Master Certified IT Architect. The first
certification shows demonstrated architecture skills, but candidates still require some form of mentoring. The second
certification demonstrates the skills to take on complete projects in a leadership role independent of others. The advantage
of this program is that it's technology-agnostic and simply demonstrates that candidates have proven skills no matter which
technology they choose to work with. Another interesting point of this program is that it can act as a source from which
other organizations or professional societies can build their own certification programs. Finally, The Open
Group provides a directory of Certified Architects, listing all who have passed the program and continue to maintain
their certification level.
 |
Become the CIO's best friend
The EITA is extraordinarily gifted at solving IT puzzles. To do so, the EITA must have breadth of experience and
excellent change-management and communication skills. This position is becoming increasingly important, especially with the
overwhelming amount of work most top-level executives face in IT. When you propose and implement your first few IT
solutions, you'll quickly discover that you've become the CIO's best friend. You'll see that
CIOs are quite happy to rely on their EITA and soon hand off a considerable workload to this new role. In short, the EITA
rapidly moves to become the CIO's right hand, helping him or her create solid, stable, and long-term IT solutions to the business
requirements that come up every day.
Too many organizations flounder when it comes to having proper direction in IT. Having an EITA to rely on will help CIOs
everywhere achieve their primary business goal: to give direction to their IT investments and keep budgets under control
at all times. After all, IT is there to serve business, not the other way around.
Resources Learn
Get products and technologies
-
IBM
trial software: Build your next development project with IBM trial software, available for download
directly from developerWorks.
Discuss
About the authors
| 
| | Nelson Ruest is a senior enterprise IT architect (EITA) with more than 20 years of experience in migration planning and network,
computer, server, and overall solution design (including MCSE, MCT, Microsoft MVP Windows Server). He has been a computer operator, a systems administrator, a trainer, a help
desk operator, a support engineer, an IT manager, a project manager, and now, an IT architect. He was recently named a
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for the Windows Server product line. You can reach Nelson at
architectures@reso-net.com. |
Rate this page
| |
