If you ask just about any IT Director, Manager, or even PM, they’ll tell you that Architects are amongst the toughest resources to find.  I’ve experienced this so often either when helping clients build their teams, or when I’ve tried to build them myself. Architect Boot Camp training was Read the rest…

Happy Holiday Weekend to my Canadian Friends, Some of you luck ones may have fled your cubes, offices or project rooms – and for those of you left, you might be in for a little reading. If you have been considering the Canadian training coming up October 20-24th, Read the rest…

Recently I was asked that if a person was already acting in the role of a software integrator, did they really need to learn how to be an Architect.  The answer was a little bit complicated, but it was an emphatic “yes!” While the basis or core skills of a great IT architect does come from solid software integration knowledge and practice, the basic practices, approaches and thought processes as well as ways of thinking in the correct context is what is taught during an IT Architecture workshop.  Various approaches and ways of thinking allows an IT Architect to get a new perspective of the various contexts they must review before choosing a solution or constructing an architecture. There are various thoughts on how one becomes an IT Architect, and granted there are so many ways to get here, the result is the same.  In order to become good or even excellent, the Architect takes on a different mind set.  There are various perspectives that are reviewed, and as well, various options with respect to ways about thinking about the issue, problem or opportunity are reviewed. The architect considers more than fitting two pieces of software together, and the approach learned in a workshop will take them through the business objectives and IT Enterprise objectives, through to the various decision making techniques and options for formulating a solution.  Typically the instructions given to an integrator are taken after an architect has determined the best approach and seen best fit for the components that are selected. During these exercises, the architect takes on a different approach with respect to requirements analysis, solution review, as well as some softer skills to deal with the political and communication parts of the equation.  Often integrators are given something very specific to be done, as well as a roadmap for doing so.  The architect takes part or creates that roadmap, and many more variables are considered than may be actually visible to the integrator. Finally – there are various approaches that an architect learns to getting from A to B.  They learn to view a solution from a multitude of angles, and those which will enable them to see their way to the minimal path of risk.  In part, the approaches are part of the culture of the organization for which they must have an appreciation for, as well as a component of the overal IT & Business Strategies. Hopefully that sheds a bit of light on the benefits of learning to become an IT Architect, rather than skipping these important steps.  For more information on training, see our site. Happy Architecting.

Just a short one today – we’ll have other exciting news later on… In the meantime, we’re getting into the swing of fall and “back to school” and our Architect Boot Camp classes are starting to fill.  If you haven’t already visited our training site, visit today and download our course catalog.   There is a full section on “how to decide” what type of architecture training is best for you in this catalog. Deadlines for earlybird registration are fast approaching:

• Enterprise Architecture Boot Camp (EAB) - September 14, 2008 – Extended – September 19, 2008
• Business Architect Boot Camp (BAB) – September 23, 2008
• IT Architect Boot Camp (IAB) – September 22, 2008
• Solution Architect Boot Camp (SAB) – September 24, 2008

After these dates, registration Read the rest…

First of all – reminder that the deadlines for early bird pricing on the Architect Boot Camp workshops in October are creeping up on us.  Get your registration completed and reserve your spot at Early Bird Rates!  There are limited seats, and all we need is your registration, and you’ve got your spot.  We’ll send you confirmation and invoices. I’ve been answering a few questions in email lately, so I thought I’d add the questions in this blog: Question: Do you see a big benefit from the Solution Architect Workshop (SAB)?  What’s the difference between it and the Information Architect Boot Camp Workshop (IAB)? Answer: The Read the rest…