The Aspiring Architect Skills Library

IASA has developed a full skills library for the IT architect. The library currently contains articles for each primary skill of the IT architect. IASA is currently in the process of augmenting the skills library with training materials, active communities of experts for peer interaction (IASA refers to these as "knowledge communities"), and links to other available resources for each topic such as books, book reviews and events. By the end of 2007, the IT architect skills library will be the largest comprensive collection of resources for the practicing architect. The project fulfills a primary component of the IASA mission which is to allow the open architect community to guide the overall direction of the profession.

The library is currently organized by the primary skills of IT architects and the articles are currently in html and pdf format:

• The IT Environment
• Business Technology Strategy
• Design
• Human Dynamics
• Quality Attributes
• Software Architecture
• Infrastructure

IASA has developed a skills taxonomy from which the articles and future training material evolves from. The taxonomy is controlled by the community through the IASA Architect Training Committee. This committee is responsible for versioning the taxonomy from updates needed by the professional community. In addition, the ATC is responsible for ensuring the quality of all training or curriculum developed by the professional body. This situation allows IASA to develop architect approved training through a transparent process which is neccessary for the success of the growing IT architect industry.

The current skills library consists of 633 pages of valuable information written by practicing architects from around the world. The skills project was commissioned by Microsoft and designed and executed by IASA for the professional community. This library will remain free to architects and it provides the first ever practical description of what IT architects do and how they do it.

Skills Taxonomy

Like most professions, the IT architecture body of knowledge rests on foundation skills from which all IT architects, regardless of specialization, must obtain. The foundation body of knowledge is made up of five primary skills categories which support all aspects of architecture practice. Figure 1 outlines these 5 skills categories and the following section contains details of the taxonomy of skills within each. Each of the skills that are a sub-part of the skill-set and taxonomy requires significant study and demonstrated practical experience to advance to the associate architect level. Once an architect has demonstrated expertise in the foundation or parallel to them aquiring these skills they may progress to a specialization. Specializations currently include software, infrastructure and business architecture and the ATC is evaluating the addition of information architecture to the list.

Training: The goal of IASA training is to ultimately provide a complete curriculum for the IT architect available from anywhere in the world. The training program is a long-term program established to accomplish this goal in clearly identified phases. Are you interested in becoming a trainer? See Architect Training Program to volunteer or become a trainer .

Relevant Resources: IASA is working on a list of available high quality resources for architects looking for materials on specific topics.  Do you know of a good book to add or a book review?  Have you written a whitepaper on the topics listed? Add a Resource to the List .

Knowledge Communities: To create a community based resource which provides a significant peer interaction component as well as relevant and up to date links to existing online/offline resources for the skill topic. A knowledge community is a virtual community of experts who provide the most relevant information, feedback and interaction based on a skill topic. See Knowledge Communities.

Why Become an IASA Contributor: As the architecture profession matures, contributions to a professional association, siteable public works such as authoring an article or running a chapter, and other active will become more and more critical to maintaining your status as an IT architect. Other professions have experienced this opportunity for professional growth and those that utilized the professional organization are able to further their professional career. You will be shaping the direction of an entire profession and providing the foundation for a real curriculum in IT architecture. In addition you have the option of having your name appear as the author of the final whitepaper to increase your overall recognition in the industry (for those authors who choose not to due to privacy concerns we will omit your professional details from the output).Authors will will be considered for participation in upcoming architect curriculum development projects.