Java Reference
In-Depth Information
There is often only one enterprise architect, and he is usually most visible at the incipient
stages of a project.
NOTE
Large corporations may have many enterprise architects, following Lines of Business. This is the
case, for example, at a company like Dell.
Solutions architect
Solutions architects generally report to the enterprise architect or CTO, and may have
more or less of a hands-on role, depending on the size of the organization. Solutions archi-
tects works with software architects, network specialists, and developers to come up with
a technical plan for implementing business goals. To do so, they typically also work with
Lines of Business managers or domain owners.
Solutions architects are really translators between business objectives and designs that can
fulfill those objectives, and they consult with both the management and technical sides of
the house to architect a solution. They may assist in vendor selection and focus on busi-
ness integration, making sure that their solutions are aligned with all impacted business
domains.
Depending on the size of the organization, there may be one or more solutions architects.
Technical architect
echnical architect
Technical architects fall right in the middle of the SOA, as they work closely with the
solutions architect, business analysts, service infrastructure administrators, and service de-
velopers to identify viable technical specifications that conform to the needs of all of these
different areas. This is a technical role, deepening the contours suggested by the solutions
architect's work product. They must be sharply aware of SOA technology options, as well
as fundamentals like network technology, infrastructure support technology, and so on.
Technical architects should have deep knowledge of the products in use. Just as the solu-
tions architect is the translator between the business and the architecture, technical archi-
tects are the translators between everyone at the technology level in order to determine an
appropriate architecture that's ready to be implemented by the service developers. They
can also serve in a consulting capacity, when project managers and others in standard IT
roles need assistance determining budgets, timelines, etc. Technical architects typically
come with a specialty, such as service implementation, network infrastructure, or business
processes.
