Leverage Solution Architects To Drive EA Results

The role of the solution architect is maturing. More than two-thirds of respondents in a Forrester poll state that their IT organizations define this role for at least some areas within their enterprises. As enterprise architecture (EA) programs mature and as a consistent definition of the solution architect emerges across industries, more organizations will recognize the opportunities this role can provide within an enterprise. To identify the benefits of employing solution architects and determine how organizations can achieve them, Forrester interviewed senior enterprise architects who leverage solution architects in their organizations. Our findings? Solution architects can fill gaps in many areas of the organization, but just having a solution architect does not guarantee that a company will see benefits. Realizing the potential benefits solution architects offer depends on many factors, including choosing architects with the right qualifications, positioning them in the appropriate place within the organizational structure, and aligning their incentives to EA's goals.