Solution Architecture Training, CITA-A Certification

Don Howard and Rakesh Malakar

Roundtable PurposeGet a sense if the Solution Architecture Training and CITA-A Certification would be valuable for you professionally and for what you do at your company

Approach

Start with context: Solution Architect role and CITA-A certification

50,000 foot view of key modules: highlights according to Don and Rakesh Business technology strategy Solution architecture Lifecycle Success metrics Stakeholders Describing the solution

Deeper dive into Solution architecture module

Finish with review of module's workshop to provoke thoughts

Basing on our personal assessments of value--inviting discussion: what resonates? do you see it differently? gaining any insights?

Module 0 - Business Technology Strategy

Compares traditional IT Architecture purpose, to enable business units through technology, to higher calling: use technology to transform business Ford Sync, Garmin and digital maps, MRI scanner, Avis pay-at-return

Shows Business architecture model examples such as Strategy Map, Balanced Scorecard, Roadmaps

Compares Business Technology Strategy to Business Architecture BTS is lifecycle for managing change , understanding the businsee,

and elevates financial and value arguments reltive to technical one BTS is common techniquest, BA is form role and accountability for

tasks

Compares life cycles of C-Suite, EA, and Projects

Module 1 - Solution Architecture Compares Solution Architect to Software Architect

Solution Architect: skill necessary to deliver end to end solution with general skills in all four specialization areas

Software Architect: specialist role with depth of skills and experience in software intensive systems

Describes two "tracks" of Solution Architecture: specialist and end-to-end or generalist

Summarizes differences between Solution Architect Generalist and Enterprise Architect Level of depth to go into when creating strategy for all four areas

Workshop had us create a Solution Architect job description to support staffing up the architecture department for the fictitious company

Module 2 - Lifecycle

Includes review of industry architecture lifecycles such as FEAF, Togaf, COBIT and others such as Gated, Agile, Iasa Solution Lifecycle

Workshop was to create an architecture lifecycle to meet circumstances of fictional business - similar to task in front of Don

Module 3 - Success Metrics

All about defining value in business terms and relating architecture work to increasing business value Architecture value measures are more than participating in projects

that are on-time, within budget, meeting requirements

Describes models like Balanced Scorecard, Business Model Canvas and others.

Workshop had the class create a Business Model Canvas for fictitious company Good for "reverse engineering" business objectives allowing better

linkage of architecture strategies, models, and other deliverables to business-recognized value

Module 4 - Stakeholders Covers human dynamics aspects of being an Architect

Communicating, influencing, motivating, working with stakeholders with different backgrounds

Great slide on different motivations of stakeholders and how to address them at different levels to move a meeting along

Workshop was to create and deliver presentation to executives persuading them to endorse important architectural objectives for the fictitious company

Module 5 - Describing the Solution Addresses viewpoints and perspectives and industry

approaches to describing them such as 4+1, Archimate, Woods and Rozanski, etc.

Workshop was to create a "Viewpoint Library"--very much on topic for Don

What Iasa Says About Solution Architecture IsThe art and science of designing and delivering a technology strategy against a measured set of goals and objectives through a time-constrained set of activities.

Solution Architects Balance Conflicting Forces

Enterprise• Standards and

Constraints• Strategic Goals• Target State

Technology Value• Increased

ROI• Constituent

Value• Market

Opportunities

Project• Timeline• Budget• Team (stakeholders)

Stakeholder• Requiremen

ts• Org

Dynamics• Conflicting • Goals

Balanced Solution

Solution Architects Work Across Four Domains

Software• Applications• Quality Attributes• Technology Framework• Maintenance

Infrastructure• Hardware• Network• Frameworks• Operations

Information• Data Storage Retrieval• Information Usage• Integration

Business• Goals• Target State• Business

Value

What Solution Architects Do

• Select and recommend high-value generation approaches for technology investment

• Generate documents representing the target state value from technology and functionality of a particular solution

• Review design and architecture documents from extended team members

• Represent the benefits and costs of chosen technical direction with stakeholders

• Ensure the ongoing delivery against target state architecture through build and run phases

• Evaluate the effectiveness of delivered solutions against planned value

• Communicate value generation throughout the business environment

• Ensure compliance with internal and external standards and regulations

Select Projects•Create/Review business case•Calculate and communicate value

•Prioritize and select•Assign architects

Create Architecture(s)•Capture and analyze requirements

•Architecture master•Generic architecture•Product specific architecture•Architecture Prototype

•Views/viewpoints

Deliver Architecture(s)•Stakeholder communication•Modify and update artifacts•Delivery

Manage Architecture•Review and analyze value•Set architecture goals•Update Engagement Model•Communicate value

Higher Level

Project Level

Solution Architects Perform Different Activities at Each Scoped Level in the Organization

Finance Sales LOB IT

Business Capability

Data Center

Solution Architects

SoftwareArchitect

SoftwareArchitect

How they’re connected with other Architects in the Organization

All architects are included

Specialists cover appropriate areas

Value “rolls up”

Value is clear to customer

Credit is given appropriately

Career growth supported

BusinessArchitects

InformationArchitects

Infrastructure

Architects

EnterpriseArchitects

Finance Sales LOB IT

Business Capability

Data Center

Solution Architects

SoftwareArchitect

SoftwareArchitect

BusinessArchitects

InformationArchitects

Infrastructure

Architects

EnterpriseArchitects

Single Project

3-5 Projects

All Projects

Both Single and Multiple

Both Single and Multiple

Their Project Coverage: Scope of Engagement

Why You Should Care – As IsSet

Goals

FundExecute

Measure

C-Suite

Portfolio Mgmt.

Governance

Milestone Review

Asset Mgmt.

EAsPlan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Architects

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Architects Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Architects

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Architects

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Architects

Solutions

Why You Should Care – To BeSet

Goals

FundExecute

Measure

C-Suite

Portfolio Mgmt.

Governance

Milestone Review

Asset Mgmt.

EAs

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Design

Project Architects

Project Architects

Project Architects

Project Architects

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Teams

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Teams

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Teams

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Teams

Plan

DesignDeliver

Measure

Project Teams

Solutions

Takeaways

Are you a complete Solution Architect? Do you want to be? Which type?

Multiple paths to all you need to know and be skilled in Iasa Solution Architect training followed by CITA-A

certification has Don and Rakesh's stamp of approval

Online classes going regularly

Travel's good: But Seattle in rainy season? Austin in summer?

Let's consider organizing and filling a class here