Enterprise Architect is the most important role in IT function today.
Legacy systems modernization will continue absorbing a big chunk of technology budgets for the next while through replacement of existing systems with native SaaS and through the hard work of breaking down monolithic systems into microservices, rewiring the organization applications and data landscape. To do so at a reasonable cost and with speed will require strong IT Architecture.
Every company will need IT architect(s) who:
1. understand deeply the similarities and differences between SOA, microservices and APIs, and what approach to apply to what business problem (does the business really need microservices everywhere?)
2. knows enough about the various tools out there to recommend the fit-for-purpose ones.
Why should the business care?
- because the organization’s agility and speed, two sought-after business capabilities, are directly linked to the apps and data landscape the IT architect(s) will put together. If your apps and data landscape is not agile and fast, your business will not be.
- because investing in digital will lead to an increase in data, software and tech infrastructure costs, which will impact the overall SG&A / COGS structure. If the architecture is broken, tech TCO will increase without the value.