Chapter 5. An Architect Stands on Three Legs
A Three-Legged Stool Does Not Wobble
A three-legged stool does not wobble
What do IT architects do? You could say that they are the people who make IT architecture, but that leaves you with having to define what architecture is, which we won’t do until Part II. More interesting yet, what sets a good architecture apart from an average one? And what does an architect become after many successful years? A penthouse resident (Chapter 1)? Hopefully not! A chief technology officer (CTO)? Not a bad choice. Or do they remain a (more senior) architect? That’s what famous building architects do, after all.
It’s time to have a look at the progression of architects.
Skill, Impact, Leadership
When asked to characterize the seniority of an architect, I apply a simple framework: a successful architect must stand on three “legs”:
- Skill
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The foundation for practicing architects. It requires knowledge and the ability to apply it to solve real problems.
- Impact
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The measure of how well an architect applies his or her skill to benefit the company.
- Leadership
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Determines whether an architect advances the state of the practice.
This nomenclature maps well to other professional fields that rely on highly trained and experienced individuals. For example, in the medical field after studying and acquiring skill, doctors practice and treat patients before ...
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