Solutions Architect ~ An Overview

The Solutions Architect is a very experienced architect with cross-domain, cross-functional and cross-industry expertise. He/she outlines solution architecture descriptions, then monitors and governs their implementation.

The Solutions Architect is responsible for the development of the overall vision that underlies the projected solution and transforms that vision through execution into the solution.

To be effective the Solutions Architect must have experience on multiple Hardware and Software Environments and be comfortable with complex heterogeneous systems environments.

 

 

 

Involvement and Responsibility:

1. Involved with a project at the time of inception.
2. Involved in the Functional analysis (FA) of developing the initial requirements.
3. Remain involved throughout the balance of the project.
4. Should have hands-on experience in multiple industries and across several disciplines
5. They can master a variety of hardware platforms including distributed platforms, desktops, and mobile devices.
6. A broad and deep understanding of Databases is also required.
7. Akin to that they should also possess skill and understanding of a variety of Operating Systems
8. Solutions Architects decide which technologies to use.
9. They work very closely with developers to ensure proper implementation.
10. They are the link between the needs of the organization and the developers.
11. A solutions architect must have a balanced mix of technical and business skills.

Solution Architecture in larger organization:

Solution Architects in large organizations often act as the bridge between Enterprise Architects and Application Architects.

• An enterprise architect’s deliverable s are usually more abstract than a solution architect’s deliverable s. But that is not always the case, and the main distinction between enterprise architect and solution architect lies in their different motivations.

• The enterprise architect is primarily employed in the design, planning and governance of strategic and cross-organizational rationalization or optimization of an enterprise’s services, processes or components.

• The solution architect is primarily employed to help programmer and project managers in the design, planning and governance of implementation projects of any kind.

When the solution architect starts and stops depends on the funding model for the process of solution identification and delivery.
E.g. An enterprise may employ a solution architect on a feasibility study, or to prepare a solution vision or solution outline for an Invitation to Tender. A supplier may employ a solution architect at “bid time”, before any implementation project is costed or resourced. Both may employ a solution architect to govern an implementation project, or play a leading role within it.

Next I will be posting what exactly the role and responsibility of a Java Solution Architect and what are the skills he/she should.