Enterprise Architect
A day in Life of Software Architect – part 2
Read part 1:
Work scheduled of a day depends on which phase projects are in currently. As typically architect work across multiple projects and help Project Manager PM aligning with organisation strategy and standards, reduce risk, liaising with stakeholder to full fill expectations develop blueprint for project.
different classes of architect have different skills and expectations:
Read More details: https://sandyclassic.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/enterprise-architecture-togafitilzachmanetomngoss/
Suppose a project is using a agile methodology: Then Architect day starts with.
Business Analyst gather requirement from clients, Architect work with them in putting technical prospective to each business Case.
In case of software services company Architect Even help sales team in estimations during bidding process like total man hours required for the projects under bidding.
Architect Also work with domain specialist along with business Analyst to find implications of changes in business environment, regulations, etc and its affect on software implemented or under implementations.
Architect Help Higher management in giving directions to roadmap of implementions or future implications on use of lets suppoe third party Charts in our BI product (license fees has to given for each chart (Make or Buy decision).Other options is make yourself it may take time (speed vs flexibility : Time to Market is crucial). Making takes time but gives flexibility, IP intellectual property, and may reduce cost in long term But Buying already developed third party may not give flexibility but can give speed and reduce cost in short term.
Adjusting solution to landscape of Client a Telecom case study.
Read This case Study for more details of similar process in telecom Stack development:
What happens At Enterprise Architect level ? see this presentation:
So A day typically depends on stage of projects like (initiation, development, implementation or maintenance), Domain of projects (insurance, finance, healthcare) and Technology used (J2EE, ERP (peoplesoft, oracle apps, SAP), .net, COBOL etc. data warehousing and BI).
Example Peoplesoft ERP Architect
e.g. Peoplesoft architect is using already dilivered set of programs, reports, table, forms, processes etc Has to take decisions Based on GAP Analysis. Plan ERP customisation either using peoplecode for UI and Forms or (SQR,nvision, Crystal reports) for report customisation, Or Administrative tools for customizing background processes.
Then plan for implementation of say suppose customising supply chain module to use some KABAN process or customising General ledger to introduce new regulation of mandatory approvals and Archiving records Or customising payroll according to country specific labour laws and company specific compensation policies.
Once functional Experts points what changes are needed Peoplesoft Architect has to draw a map immediately what Changes would be required in technology.
Then work along with team on implementations, stabilization of ERP and further supporting the ERP along with team figure out technical challenges and POC alternative solutions by using different levels of tools/technology in ERP or by integrating third party products.
To be continued…..
A day in Life of Software Architect – part 1
In Computer science world Architect is designer of Software just like
Relation between Architect and Engineer is same as between Architect of Building and Civil Engineer of Building. While Civil engineer looks at how much cement to be used block constructed, How much steel, iron rods to be used in pillars..is mixture stron enough to used, material quality and usage etc.
Architect looks at design ,asthetics and sustainability of Building like What should be thicknes of iron road and of pillar to sustain wind pressure?
IT world Civil Engineer is Software Developer and Architect is Software Architect.
Like civil Engineer Software developer looks How much lines of code can I achieve this task?, optimize code(material usage)?, Estimate time of completion of task assigned?, follow design specification to achieve concrete product.
While Architect Looks design of Software is integrable with existing Landscape of client(similar to building aesthetics to environment), long term sustainability/scalability of solution etc..
Different Types/Kind of Architects required in IT industry Read:
Architect sits between Project Manager, Stake holders and Development team.
Responsible for overcoming technical challenges in projects, Design roadmap taking stakeholders project goal aligning with business Strategy of company.
Not only Architect generates Design Artefacts for project but also gives technical guidance in for of standards/regulatory technical constraints, and Alternative solutions to road blockers, better technical coding, bridge between testing and development team to achieve defect free as well in time delivery according to specifications. While controlling resources, initiation of project , implementation to maintenance Phase provide technical solutions to project manager.
Architect must be conversant with all latest technical trends related to Technical Domain (Network for infrastructure architect, Database design/development for Data Architect,
BI&DW for Datawarehouse architect, J2EE/design pattern for Java architect, Mobile development for Mobile Architect etc etc..) Enterprise Architect works still higher level to collate data from Each of these architect to create roadmap(What? When? Why? How?) in Artefacts
To Be Continued in Next Article:
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