IT Architects : Type and their Role

In this blog we're going to cover the type, layer and role of the IT architects by keeping about the various types of architecture that the IASA maintains and follows. IASA is the premier association focused on the architecture profession through the advancement of best practices and education while delivering programs and services to IT architects of all levels around the world. As we already know the role of architects, i.e., architect defines the architecture. It applies to various aspects of IT systems development and base platform designs methodology. 

Consider the various types of architecture lists:

The term "technical architecture" is a common first attempt to describe architecture but without the need to be specific about what type of architecture you're referring to. Therein lies a failing when using this term: it is too unspecific to be particularly meaningful when discussing a responsibility or project and business requirement.The technical architects are broadly divided into:

• Enterprise Architect
• Software Architect
• Infrastructure Architect
• Information Architect
• Business Architect

In addition, we do have others architects in queue which plays important role into the IT operations.They are:

• System/Product architect
• Domain Architect
• Solution Architect
• Applied Architect

Based on the above architects list and their respective characteristics, the types of architects shall be divided broadly into the business and technical architects (Please refer below diagram). But, before that we would discuss about the summary of above listed architects:

System Architect: "System architect" refers to the way in which desired functionality is met by hardware and software components as well as how these components relate to each other and the intended users of the system. The term "architecture" is often generically used to refer to the system architecture, at least within the context of software systems development. They have equal strength in the both technical and business area. Plays a vital role to bring all the stake holders together and ensure all the stake holders concern’s are captured methodologically, formally documented and validated. Assist the project manager to make the management decision and makes key technical decision for the project/system/product. Brings all the technical architects, development teams, system analyst, and support teams together to ensure the cohesive architecture is defined to meet the stake holders concern and ensures the defined architecture is implemented. The system architecture validation is done by using the user case scenarios. +1 view of the architecture. The architecture verification is done through reviews.

Domain Architect: "Domain architect" responsible for the architecture solution for that domain which comes under generic, organizational structure or design for software systems. The domain architecture contains the designs that are intended to satisfy requirements specified in the domain model. A domain architecture can be adapted to create designs for software systems within a domain and also provides a framework for configuring assets within individual software systems. The domain architect is an abstract  definition and there are various domain architects. The domain architects specific to the web

development projects are

• Application architect
• Data architect
• Information architect
• Integration architect
• Security architect
• IT Process architect
• Infrastructure architect
  • Network architect
  • Server architect
  • Web run time architect

Solution Architect: A "Solutions architect" in Information Technology Enterprise Architecture is a practitioner in the field of Solution Architecture. Solution architecture team is the set of specialist working together to research and seek solutions for a specific problem.The role title has a wider meaning in relation to solving problems, but is more often used in the narrower domain of Technical architecture - the context for the remainder of this definition. In this context, 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 role of "Solutions Architect" requires the knowledge and skills that are both broad and deep. To be effective the Solutions Architect must have experience on multiple Hardware and Software Environments and be comfortable with complex heterogeneous systems environments.

Applied Architect: "Applied architect" provides practical guidelines and techniques for producing quality software designs. It gives an overview of software architecture basics and a detailed guide to architecture design tasks.The applied architects have the known set of problems, solution and context. The architectural patterns are applied to the system or product. The architectural patterns includes to the process solution or methodology for the implementation and its style.

Software Architect: "Software architect" mainly focused for developers is aimed at software developers that want to learn more about software architecture as well as those that are new to the role. It fills the gap between software development and high-level architecture that probably seems a little "enterprisingly" for most developers.

Information Architect: "Information architect (IA)" is the art and science of organizing and labelling websites, intranets, online communities and software to support usability. It is an emerging discipline and community of practice focused on bringing together principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape. Typically it involves a model or concept of information which is used and applied to activities that require explicit details of complex information systems. These activities include library systems and database development. Information architecture is a specialized skill set that interprets information and expresses distinctions between signs and systems of signs. More concretely, it involves the categorization of information into a coherent structure. Typically this is required in activities such as library systems, Content Management Systems, web development, user interactions, database development, programming, technical writing, enterprise architecture, and critical system software design. Information architecture originates, to some degree, in the library sciences.

Application Architect: "Application architect" is really a subset of the system architecture. The scope of the application architecture, as opposed to the system architecture, is often determined by business function. It is typical for the application architecture to be defined to a lower level than the system architecture, particularly as it needs to refine the system architecture to provide the design decisions that relate specifically to the business function rather than to the system as a whole.

Enterprise Architect: The term "Enterprise architecture (EA)" is the process of translating business vision and strategy into effective enterprise change by creating, communicating and improving the key requirements, principles and models that describe the enterprise's future state and enable its evolution. EA are responsible for defining the holistic architecture solution for the entire enterprise. However, enterprise architecture is more concerned with mapping the business processes and needs to the technical capabilities of the organization, including personnel, strategy, distribution and how the business' changing needs will be met. The enterprise architect role is therefore extremely wide-reaching, being enterprise-wide, and requires careful inspection of all the business' functions and their strategic requirements. Many people may contribute to the enterprise architecture, but that doesn't make them responsible for it and thus doesn't make them enterprise architects.