Career Development for Architects Kevin Francis National Practice and Productivity Manager Object Consulting

What We Will Cover My background and work in this area Types of Architects Paths into Architecture So what makes a good Architect anyway? Paths from Architecture Setting yourself apart from the rest Q&A

My background and work in this area

Types of Architects

Paths into Architecture

So what makes a good Architect anyway?

Paths from Architecture

Setting yourself apart from the rest

Q&A

My background Why should I be talking about this? Developer and Operations Architect and Consultant Enterprise Architect Project Manager and Business Owner Principal Architect Delivery Manager Executive Manager MVP and community work

Developer and Operations

Architect and Consultant

Enterprise Architect

Project Manager and Business Owner

Principal Architect

Delivery Manager

Executive Manager

MVP and community work

Types of Architects It isn't all about code … Solution Architect Application Architect Application Architect Application Architect Data Architect User Interface Architect Application Architect Integration Architect Infrastructure Architect

Paths into Architecture It 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

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 the customer Managing change Explaining what needs to be done Managing the development team

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 the customer

Managing change

Explaining what needs to be done

Managing the development team

Making Developers into Architects An Architect isn't just a smart Developer Technical things you 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

Technical things you 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

Making Developers into Architects What should developers learn? Study Patterns and Practices Read about the product stack etc Study methodologies Undertake Architecture Training Undertake Project Management Training Consider communications training Look around you, become more involved Get prepared to leave code behind

Study Patterns and Practices

Read about the product stack etc

Study methodologies

Undertake Architecture Training

Undertake Project Management Training

Consider communications training

Look around you, become more involved

Get prepared to leave code behind

So 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

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

So 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

Project Management skills:

Scope management

Change management

Requirements management

Contract management

Estimation

Schedule management

Methodologies. That’s plural.

Test Approaches & Management

So What Makes a Good Architect? The soft stuff Presentation skills Team leading skills Mentoring skills Excellent writing skills Excellent communication skills

Presentation skills

Team leading skills

Mentoring skills

Excellent writing skills

Excellent communication skills

Paths from Architecture You can't be an architect forever Delivery Manager, etc Infrastructure Manager, etc CTO CIO Other Executive Infrastructure Manager SOA Architect Snr Data Architect Snr Project Manager Solution Architect Enterprise Architect or Consultant

Paths from Architecture Executive traits People management skills Operational skills Cost management skills Project governance capabilities Very senior communication skills Business strategy Change management

People management skills

Operational skills

Cost management skills

Project governance capabilities

Very senior communication skills

Business strategy

Change management

Creating the Next Step What you should be doing … An MBA? Maybe… Real experience in any case. Focus on: Project execution Operational Infrastructure Financial management People and communications. Mentor lots and well! Be visible. Become well recognised.

An MBA? Maybe…

Real experience in any case.

Focus on:

Project execution

Operational

Infrastructure

Financial management

People and communications. Mentor lots and well!

Be visible. Become well recognised.

Call to Action What should you be doing? Developers: build your architecture skills, etc; look outside your cubicle Junior Architects: work on your not-so soft and soft skills; complete your architecture knowledge Senior Architect, do an MBA or start learning other stuff somehow Regardless, think more broadly. Look around you. Listen. Be prepared to move on and leave stuff behind. Actively manage your career!

Developers: build your architecture skills, etc; look outside your cubicle

Junior Architects: work on your not-so soft and soft skills; complete your architecture knowledge

Senior Architect, do an MBA or start learning other stuff somehow

Regardless, think more broadly. Look around you. Listen. Be prepared to move on and leave stuff behind.

Actively manage your career!

Kevin Francis Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/architecture/ Email: [email_address] www.objectconsulting.com.au www.objecttraining.com.au