What essential characteristics does an architect need?
Prasad Narasimhan asked this question on LinkedIn and I responded as follows:
Each of the various architect sub-types (e.g. enterprise, solutions, software, data etc) will have their own niche characteristics.
In general however, I believe an architect should have the following skills:
1. Good communication skills up, down and across the enterprise
2. A passion for reaching, engaging and delivering to stakeholders
3. A broad and deep understanding of technology and its integration.
4. An ability to hold a good strategic appreciation of the business
5. Strategic appreciation of the IT industry and an understanding of how this can impact maturing technologies
6. Underpinning all this, a general experience in how IT works - hardware, software development, project management, business process management, product marketing - and finally, not forgetting the end customer.
What do you reckon? Is this is a fair reflection of the essential skills?
Each of the various architect sub-types (e.g. enterprise, solutions, software, data etc) will have their own niche characteristics.
In general however, I believe an architect should have the following skills:
1. Good communication skills up, down and across the enterprise
2. A passion for reaching, engaging and delivering to stakeholders
3. A broad and deep understanding of technology and its integration.
4. An ability to hold a good strategic appreciation of the business
5. Strategic appreciation of the IT industry and an understanding of how this can impact maturing technologies
6. Underpinning all this, a general experience in how IT works - hardware, software development, project management, business process management, product marketing - and finally, not forgetting the end customer.
What do you reckon? Is this is a fair reflection of the essential skills?
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