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: kevin.francis@objectconsulting.com.au Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/architecture/

Object: www.objectconsulting.com.au Process Mentor: www.processmentor.com