(Enterprise) Architects of Tomorrow

Introduction

We live in an era of continuous disruption coupled with the rise of emerging trends such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and the Internet of Things (IoT) all contributing to an ever expanding interconnected digital mesh of people, devices, data and "always-on" services available anywhere and everywhere - RIGHT NOW.

These disruptive events desperately require new business and operating models that are strategic not just tactical or reactive. This will give rise to a new dawn of business which extends beyond our physical world to one that is digital and supplemented by virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences.

In most companies, CXOs and senior managers will respond to these disruptions through top-down initiatives typically focussed on establishing new Target Operating Models (TOMs) linked to mission, vision and corporate strategies and supported by speculative project portfolios with unallocated budgets.

However, a key area that is often neglected is Enterprise Architecture and, as a result, there is little or no real understanding of the technology landscape, associated business processes, data repositories and services deployed across the organisation over several years. Worse still, many organisations have a habit of standing up Enterprise Architecture functions only to dismantle them a few months later forfeiting the opportunity to respond to business opportunities in a timely and effective manner leading to JFDI corrective actions.

Enterprise Architecture (EA), done properly, provides a tool to move from strategy to execution and extend from physical to virtual business. It addresses how to develop a winning enterprise model through understanding the business strategy and enhancing the ability to design agile business and IT processes for long-lasting and high-level performance.

Fundamentally, engaging the Architecture Teams and empowering them to participate in strategic planning and ideation activities will help your organisation to intelligently respond to disruptive events which affect business today, tomorrow and the day after.

Enterprise Architects need to be "versatilists"

"Enterprise Architects of Tomorrow" (which I will generalise as "Architects of Tomorrow" as I believe this affects all types of Architects including those who practice Business, Application, Information and Infrastructure disciplines) must combine best practices and innovation, whilst also empowering, coaching and advising their peers, developers and others engaged in delivery to be successful. They will need to become increasingly business savvy and develop a much wider and more versatile skill set.

Gartner predicts that by 2021, 40% of IT staff will be "versatilists" - those who can hold multiple roles, most of which will be business-, rather than technology-, related.

Probably, most important of all, the "Architects of Tomorrow" also need to communicate actively with CXOs who are engaged in business management that may also require enterprise information management and data analytics (typically rendered via dashboards).

"Architects of Tomorrow" should take time to befriend key business stakeholders such as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and VP of supply chain who are typically the first to recognise opportunities resulting from disruptive events as well as intelligence gained through monitoring external industries, new sales territories, and competitors.

In return, "Architects of Tomorrow" can share their institutional knowledge about core processes and why certain systems work as they do to provide the CMO with a broader perspective on how a potential disruption challenges the status quo.

Next Steps

Throughout the next few months, I plan to post additional blogs expanding on the role of the "Architects of Tomorrow".

This will be supplemented by a series of breakfast briefings and meetup style events (in collaboration with key partners) targeting Business / IT leaders concerning the development and training of employees who aspire to become the ‘Architects of Tomorrow’. 

The events will not only provide networking and collaboration opportunities for attendees but will also focus on continuing professional development of people who want to pursue career path towards serving as Chief Architects, CTOs and CDOs across organisations who need to operate in an era of digital disruption.

(Note - I use CDO to mean "Chief Data Officer" rather Chief Digital Officer)