The document discusses the need to establish architecture as a well-defined profession through organizations like IASA. It outlines IASA's efforts over the last 10 years to advance architecture excellence by developing a common body of knowledge, specializations, certification levels, and education programs. The document recommends that professionals interested in architecture join IASA to assess their skills, pursue training and certifications, and help advance the profession to higher standards through individual efforts and by bringing architecture practices to their companies.

1. Don’t Back Into Architecture
Don Howard, CITA-F
Principal Solution Architect, Deluxe Corp

2. Setup
My path
Not alone in the feeling that the profession is not well defined
The profession
Iasa’s contribution over last 10 years
Room for multiple IT architect professional groups
My purpose today: persuade you to make Iasa a big part of your IT architect career

3. Problem
Young profession
Multiple paths in
Super-developer to architect
Super-DBA to architect
Development manager to architect
Business person with technical competence to architect
Operations and network specialist with business and development competence to architect
Perception and other challenges of architecture
Unprepared in some areas, hit the wall

4. Solution
Make it a profession
Like medicine, law, dentistry, civil engineering, building architecture, etc.
That’s Iasa’s primary mission: advancing architecture professional excellence
Common body of knowledge (BOK), specializations, certified levels of mastery, education
Professionally excellent IT architect will look like…
Trusted advisor – strategic, visionary, technology breadth and depth, business acumen and strong in organization dynamics
Predictable results – design skills, solid tactics and execution
Multi-lingual – fluent in language of business, architecture and technology
Summed up: be a “technology strategist for the business”

5. Body of Knowledge (BOK) Pillars

6. Specializations and Scope
The Software Architect (examples: business applications, LOB applications, work flow systems, purchased applications, developed applications)
Comprehensive software and application strategy spanning corporate and customer value chains
The Infrastructure Architect (examples: Network topology, messaging, data centers, storage, backup and recovery, directories, management frameworks, repositories, monitoring, security)
Hardware, network and operational strategy delivering optimized and agile enterprises
Information Architect (examples: Data governance, Master and Metadata management, Data storage, Data Warehousing and BI, Data provisioning and delivery, security)
Storage, retrieval and integration of critical enterprise information
Business Architect (examples: BP Modeling, BP Management, Process Frameworks)
Integration of business and technical strategy related to department and business capability delivery
The Enterprise Architect (examples: LOB, Portfolio, Enterprise, CIO) provides the integrated vision and directions for an autonomous IT system
Manage architecture initiatives and lead business technology strategy
Source: Max Poliashenko, Iasa Fellow

7. Levels of Mastery
4. CITA-Professional
Certified IT Architect- Professional
Industry level contributions
7-10+ years experience
Level Goal:
Develop new knowledge for industry
Activities:
- Mentor and lead complex initiatives
- Lead organization wide change
- Research new areas of architecture
- Teach and speak at conferences
3. CITA-Specialist
Certified IT Architect- Specialist
Enterprise level contributions
5-7 years experience
Level Goal:
Apply skills on complex solutions
Activities:
- Continually expand skill
areas*
- Fill gaps in knowledge and practice
- Mentor and contribute to profession
* Continuing education through Iasa and partners
2. CITA-Associate
Iasa Associate Certification
Project level
3-5 years experience
Level Goal:
Acquire depth knowledge
Activities:
- Training in specialization*
- Practice knowledge with oversight
- Identify an industry mentor
*See Iasa Skills Taxonomy
1. CITA-Foundation
Iasa Foundation Certification
Project level
1-3 years experience
Level Goal:
Acquire core terminology and skills
Activities:
- Training in core skills and terminology**
*Senior architects benefit from comprehensive knowledge and terms.
**Non-architects benefit from key modules.

8. IT Architect BOK One Level Deeper

9. Put the Solution into Effect
Join Iasa Global, join Iasa MN
Take self assessment, see where you stand
Take courses, pursue certifications, use self study materials, attend conferences, leverage the local and global network
Advance the profession: do your part individually
Advance the profession: take it to your company
Architecture engagement model: value, skills, progress, coverage
Connected architecture organization, recommended job descriptions
Generic architecture process

10. Where do Self Assessment Results Place You?
Scoring Standards for each pillar: 1% - 25% Iasa recommends improvement to accomplish the CITA-F level. Learning resources by pillar are listed below. 26% - 50% Congratulations! According to your score you have foundation level knowledge of this pillar and may be qualified to pass CITA-F level. Iasa recommends improvement to accomplish the CITA-A level. Learning resources by pillar are listed below. 51% - 70% Congratulations! According to your score you have Associate level knowledge of this pillar and may be qualified to pass CITA-A level. Additional learning ressource are available below by pillar. 71% - 100% Congratulations! Your knowledge level in the five pillars exceeds CITA-F and CITA-A level. Depending on your actual work experience you are qualified to attempt the CITA-S or CITA-P certification levels.
 Learning resources : Business Technology Strategy Human Dynamics IT Environment Quality Attributes Design ITABoK

11. Conclusion
If we…
Understand IT architect BOK and our specializations
Know our skill levels and how to improve
And we make this happen individually and collectively
We’ll have better careers, a better profession, and we’ll create better technology to improve business and people’s lives