Architects are not experts …

Past Architecture Role

For the last 10 years or so, different architect roles raised: enterprise architects, platform architects, infrastructure architects, integration architects, security architects, data architects … It’s no surprise that this siloed approach ended up with many architects trying to collaborate on a project.

From a delivery team perspectives, a swarm of architects was melting on them. Each of them with a different perspective, skill set, objectives … It could have been a challenge to align everyone on a common vision. 

This very specialized approach (that made sense 10 years ago) dit not help  to consider all the stacks on which products were built: from deep roots within infrastructure to highly functional layers. On top of that, architects were always staffed outside of teams in a transverse position making it difficult to be really involved within teams.

Continuous Architecture's Role

By Continuous Architecture, we tried to rationalize architects roles. Our objectives are to

  1. simplify the life of delivery teams
  2. ensure fullstack design
  3. enable the staffing and embbeding of architects within delivery teams
  4. clarify roles and responsabilities between architects and experts

We ended up with 3 roles:

  • Enterprise architect
  • Product architect
  • Full-stack architect

… and experts are not architects

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Enterprise architect

Enterprise architects lead the intentional architecture. 

They play a leading role in the enterprise’s core architecture principles and reference architecture (style, patterns, tech radard,..). 

They lead the architecture strategy, sourcing strategy and IS roadmap for main business areas or value chain. They coordonate and federate teams to reach collective architecture’s objectives. 

They are key mentors for the architecture communities and connect the dots between business and IT people

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Product architect

Product architects considers the product lifecycle from idea to retirement.

End user experience and value is a permanent focus.

Product architects advocate for the next generation.

Product architects develop one sustainable system by maintaining a share understanding of end user’s problem solving and by facilitating functional architecture decision.

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Full-stack architect

Full-stack architect considers the system as a whole, connects the dots between emergent design and intentional architecture.

Full-stack architect facilitates architecture decisions with mobilization of experts, thinks in a multi-horizons to develop one sustainable system.

An Evolutive model based on member’s feedbacks