A perspective on the application of AI in Solution Architecture¶
Work in Progress
A New World¶
The role of a Solution Architect differs significantly from that of a software engineer or "coder." I shared some thoughts on this in an earlier post. Solution Architects must consider a broad perspective when defining architectural principles, standards, and the overall vision for a solution. This "codification" of their work often takes the form of documented artifacts, architectural models, and diagrams—essentially, the blueprint for the solution.
A key responsibility of the Solution Architect is ensuring the engineering team's development aligns with the documented architecture and adapts as requirements and the architecture itself evolve. They also integrate feedback and learnings from the engineering team to maintain the architecture's relevance.
Therefore, the Solution Architect leads a continuous feedback loop centered on what I call the "4 Cs":
- Clear Communication: Facilitating clear communication between the architecture and engineering teams/squads and with product management.
- Coordination: Ensuring effective coordination of work across teams and departments.
- Cooperation: Fostering a collaborative environment where teams work together seamlessly.
- Credibility: Demonstrating credibility to key stakeholders, typically through the quality of the architecture and the engineering team's execution.
The Reality¶
This all looks good on paper. However, in my many years of experience as a Solution Architect on small and large projects I found it frustrating that the ...