Labels such as Enterprise Architecture, Business Architecture, Security Architecture, Network Architecture, are common used within the industry today, but it is not at all clear whether the role of the "Architect", and the depth of technical knowledge, skills and experience involved in each of these roles, is the same.

The Open Group has led the way in the IT industry in launching a program to certify the skills and experience levels of IT Architects - The Open Group IT Architect Certification program. The IT Architect is someone who defines - 'architects' - solutions to client business problems through the reasoned application of information technology. Those solutions are manifested as architectures, and may involve the application and integration of a broad variety of products, technologies and services, various systems and applications architectures, and diverse hardware and software components.

Like a building architect, much of the IT Architect's work is focused on the front end of the solution life-cycle: listening to clients, understanding their business requirements, and systematically forming incrementally more detailed definitions of the structures of an information technology solution - an architecture. However, the IT Architect is often also involved in the construction of a solution - to act as advocate for the client and the ultimate authority on the architecture that was produced to address the client's business problem, and to provide technical leadership and guidance to the construction team.

The diverse nature of these requirements indicates a need for a breadth of technical competence and understanding on the part of the IT Architect, coupled with a depth of understanding in one or more specific technical areas, which will vary according to the nature of the engagement and the role that the IT Architect is playing. It also highlights the need for the industry to properly define the required technical competencies of IT Architects and the valid expectations of clients for expertise in the different technical fields that are typically involved in today's architecture engagements.

Appropriate technical skills and experience, including technical breadth

IT Architects require practical skills and experience with many application and infrastructure (operational) products, technologies, and services. While often relying on professionals with specialized skills for the construction, implementation, and operational aspects of solution delivery in many areas, the IT Architect must have enough skills and experience in applying them to successfully architect appropriate solutions of heterogeneous components.

Beyond that base of technical breadth, effective IT Architects usually possess additional architectural skills in one or more specific disciplines.

The importance of full lifecycle experience

In the development of architectures that address business problems, the IT Architect's work is primarily performed at the front end of the solution lifecycle. Full lifecycle experience - in particular, the knowledge and appreciation of the construction, implementation, and management aspects of the solution lifecycle - enables the IT Architect to produce solution designs that are truly viable and that can be successfully constructed, implemented, operated, and managed.

Sample Architecture Disciplines

The Open Group IT Architect Certification program does not currently set any requirements for IT Architecture disciplines, but the program is expected to be revised to include disciplines as specific options in the future. The types of IT Architecture discipline, and the requirements for certification, will evolve with the needs of the IT industry. Examples of such potential disciplines that are currently envisaged include: · Enterprise Architecture · Business Architecture · Information Architecture · Application Architecture · Technology Infrastructure Architecture.

This conference will investigate this important topic and seek feedback from the industry on the need for an adequate industry definition of IT Architecture disciplines.

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