The 7 Disciplines - of the IT Architect Profession

This is the information I came across on the IBM site publicly available to everyone.

Again one of those pieces of information that i wished to archive here to enlighten myself and others alike.

The IT Architect Profession can be classified in 7 disciplines:
1: Application Architecture
2: Enterprise Architecture
3: Information Architecture
4: Infrastructure Architecture
5: Integration Architecture
6: Operations Architecture
7: Systems Engineering and Architecture

The role of the IT Architect involves listening to clients, understanding their business requirements and defining the structure of information technology solutions. They assist clients on their hardware and software infrastructure and help clients decide which platform is best for their applications. They may also lead the technical sales team in their proposal activity. There are roles that include Technical Sales Architects (which can be on a sales plan – see sales roles), or Test architects. Some of the more common IT Architect roles are listed below:

Infrastructure Architect:

This role concentrates on the design of infrastructures including servers, storage, workstations, middleware, non-application software, networks, and the physical facilities that support the applications and business processes required by the client. Included in the focus areas is the critical evaluation and selection of the software and hardware components of the infrastructure. Infrastructure Architects are responsible for performance, availability and scalability of the infrastructure.

Integration Architect:

The primary focus of an Integration Architect is to design and develop solutions that fully integrate and collaborate with existing IT systems in order to perform an automated business function. These solutions may use different technologies, vendors, platforms, and styles of computing. The Integration Architect has a holistic view of enterprise solutions, including a sound appreciation of operational costs, security, performance engineering, application development and systems management.

Operations Architect:

These professionals focus on the design of systems to manage the infrastructure and applications used by the client. This role focuses on defining plans, strategies and architectures for the installation, operation, migration and management of complex information systems. An Operations Architect gathers and analyzes client I/T needs, translates these needs into requirements for specific systems management processes, products, and services, and may lead or advise the teams which install, operate and maintain the I/T system.

Systems Engineer:

This role provides creates technical solutions for customers in the delivery of complex projects/programs, including complex system integration projects. Their responsibilities span the end-to-end lifecycle of a complex project, from system requirements through delivery and production/deployment, providing technical, architectural, and project management leadership to insure overall solution integrity.

Hope it helped.