Tag Archives: Solution Architect

Productivity hacks for Architects / Designers / Tech Leads

As per my experience, the biggest productivity hacks for Architects / Designers / Tech Leads are not to decide the variables / class names / loops / scope / data types / exception handling / object relational mapping & so on – they definitely are important and should be done, but so are the below points:

1. Design patterns

2. What is the code for?

3. Functional to technical mapping

4. Solution creation

5. Pseudocode & logic steps

6. Logic of solution for design / programming problems

7. Co-ordination with stakeholders & communication

8. Code review

9. Logic review of programmed modules

10. Architecture / Design thoughts

11. Knowledge updation around tools / products / frameworks usage

12. Time management of developers

13. Task management of developers

14. Solving problems in design

15. Programming standards management

16. Technical best practices management

17. New technology exploration

18. Helping sales, presales & practice

19. Working on POCs, solutions, products and accelerators

20. Updating oneself with the current happening in industry and domain

21. Automation, Security, Testing, Deployment, Continuous integration / deployment, Integrations, Logging, User Interface / User Experience, Application monitoring, Support structure, Clustering / Auto-scaling, Non functional requirements and other such important areas

22. Establish collaboration / teamwork among technical staff working with them

23. Right documentation and knowledge sharing practices

Many get stuck in only programming, that is definitely something we all love and do, but you should be dividing your time as an Architect / Tech Lead / Designer between programming and above tasks equally. Current enterprise softwares are complex and you can’t achieve much without collaboration and above form an important link for productivity in complex, large team projects.

#architecture #design #technicallead #solutionsarchitect

Email me: Neil@TechAndTrain.com

Visit my creations:

  • www.TechAndTrain.com
  • www.QandA.in
  • www.TechTower.in

Skills required for working as a Solution Architect

  • High level Architecture understanding about Clustering of Databases / Applications Servers / Operating Systems, Enterprise Architecture, Non Functional Requirements, Integrations, Various Enterprise Software Products & Frameworks
  • Concepts of Virtualization and Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure & Google Cloud
  • Integration – Tools, Frameworks & Products that can be used like ESB, Web-Services, etc.
  • Latest trends around Big Data, NoSQL, React, Mobility, Portals, ERP, Cloud, Search, Scanning, Analytics, Networking, etc.
  • Reading list of websites for updating oneself on various domains, trends & technologies
  • Documents, spreadsheets & presentations – Skills with MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-PPT, Google Docs, HTML, Visio, Free / Open Source / Cloud based Enterprise Architecture & Digital Marketing Tools & MS Paint, etc.
  • Programming skills in at-least one front line full application programming language like Java, VB.Net, C#, etc. as a minimum & concepts of digital electronics & microprocessors
  • Database, Encryption & Computer Networking skills including SQL, PL/SQL, Indexing, Triggers, Procedures, TCP/IP, UDP, IPv6/4, SSL/HTTPS, Types of encryption, etc.
  • Basics of how to create requirement documents, proposals, estimations & statement of works
  • Soft skills for working & collaborating with various stakeholders from Top Management, HR, Finance, Legal, Operations to developer level and customers
  • Reporting skills around creation of document, status updates, etc.
  • Project Management & Testing overview, Tools, Processes & Products used for the same
  • Overview of Quality Frameworks like CMMi, ISO, etc.
  • Ability to learn things quickly, present them in concise, customer friendly ways & networking skills to support Sales & Project Managers
  • Basic understanding of RFP / RFI / RFQ & Consulting process

Part 1 for this here: What do Presales Consultants / Solution Architects do ?