I’ve been asked the question “do we need IT Architects” on a regular basis throughout my career. Mostly wrapped up politely and sometimes more targeted to specific domains. Often this is prompted around cost and sometimes due to the shortness of supply both internally and in the recruitment market. As an architect leader my answer is often “yes” but that doesn’t really explain the answer or the question.
IT architecture is a wide field and I could name a dozen different job titles. Though similar in nature there are specialists in different areas of IT architecture which means most organisations need a whole set of IT architects. Often as IT architects we are able to get by without all the specialists we might truly need, a solution architect might do the data design rather than using a data architect for example. This adds to the confusion in the stakeholders of why do we have so many architecture types and architects. Few organisations I have worked with have defined IT architecture as a job family, and broken that down into a structure to explain what architects achieve.
In my IT Architect job family definition we can break architecture down into three super types:
- Strategy
- Change Delivery
- Engineering.
These can then group the specific job titles into a supertype with a similar objective.
IT Strategy supertype represents IT architects working to evolve the IT function and how the functions align to the future business. They deliver the IT Strategy and consider how the capabilities of the IT organisation must evolve. This also covers the future services the function will operate for the business and therefore IT roadmap work. Job titles you may find within this space include Enterprise Architect, Business Architect and Information Architect.
IT Change Delivery supertype represents IT architects working on a project or programme to achieve a specific outcome for the business. They work across technologies and data domains to articulate a solution. The roles must work to bridge between business stakeholders, project managers, IT functions and IT SMEs. Job titles you may find within this space include Solution Architect, Data Architect, Cloud Architect, and Infrastructure Architect.
The Engineering super type represents IT architects working on a specific technology stack or platform. They safeguard the sustainability of these platforms working alongside other architecture super types within change projects. They define Application Lifecycle Roadmaps to allow these platforms to remain supportable and continue to deliver the service level the business requires. Job titles you may find within this space include Application Architect, Compute Architect, Storage Architect, and Network Architect along with lead engineer or lead developer.
The question of do we need IT architects is really about if we need the outcome or objective assured by one of these architecture supertypes. At times organisations do reduce the amount of change for example prior to a merger, or depreciate a platform by allowing its service level to drop. In these situations the amount of IT architecture does reduce.
The question “Do we need IT Architects” is never about people. It is about the objectives and risks. Using the three supertypes is one way of explaining these objectives and therefore articulating the risk. Appropriately informed leaders can take the decision on if we do need an architect for this objective.
| Super Type | Objective | Example Job Title |
| IT Strategy | IT Strategy, Capability Roadmap | Enterprise, Business and Information Architect |
| IT Change Delivery | Project architecture design across technologies and data domains | Solution, Data, Cloud and Infrastructure Architect |
| Engineering | Sustainability and reliability of platforms and technology stacks | Application, Compute, Storage, and Network Architect |
