I OWN MY CAREER

sreekanth.iyer@in.ibm.com, Senior IT Architect, India Software Lab

ITA Profession Overview

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2011 IBM Corporation

You have been nominated to participate in this program that will help
you to achieve your Architect Profession Associate Certification
goals This workshop has the following agenda:
Class Session
Architect profession overview
Certification overview
Certification Tool Overview
References
Questions and discussion
Participants share their career plans
Preparing Associate Certification Cases - Working in breakout teams
Wrap-up week 1
Each student to tell us one new thing you learned this week and how you will apply it in
your jobs (1 minute)

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2011 IBM Corporation

Architect Profession Overview

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What do Architects do?

Architects define solutions and/or guide the definition of solutions to business
problems that provide client value architects are fundamental to the delivery of
these solutions
Solution definitions become the basis for planning the delivery approach and
procuring artifacts and labor required to implement the solution. The solution definition
consists of various formal models.
Architects also work at the enterprise level to define building blocks and guidance for the
eventual definition and implementation of specific solutions across that enterprise.
The Architect's work is focused on listening to stakeholders, understanding their business
requirements and systematically forming incrementally more detailed definitions of the
structures of a solution -- an architecture
The IBM Architect also has a role throughout the implementation of the solution as a
technical leader
Understanding the business problem is a key aspect of the method that IBM Architects
apply (E.g. Business drivers, functional, non-functional requirements and constraints, and the
current business and IT environment)
The process of defining the architecture involves making trade-offs between the
requirements and concerns of the various stakeholders which often conflict (e.g. performance
vs. security).
The IT Architect will make the fundamental design decisions that provide the best balance
between these often conflicting concerns.
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Architect Profession Structure

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IBM Architect Career Model

IT Architect
in
training
Architect
in Training
At these levels
TheArchitect
IT Architect
the
develops
these skills and
capabilities
develops
these
skills

Fundamental
Skills
Core
capabilities

Fundamental
Core
Skills
capabilities

Accredited IT
Associate
Architect
Certified
Architect

Specilization
Skills
Specialization
capabilities

Specilization
Specialization
Skills
capabilities

Certified
IT
Architect
Certified
Architect

Leadership Skills
Leadership
skills

Leadership
Skills
Leadership
skills
SENIOR CERTIFICATION
SENIOR CERTIFICATION

Technical
Skills
Technical
skills

CERTIFICATION
CERTIFICATION

The IT Architect
demonstrates
these skills
The Architect
in these levelsthese skills
demonstrates
and capabilities in these levels

ACCREDITATION
ASSOCIATE CERTIFICATION

The Architect Career Model

Senior Certified
IT Architect
Senior
Certified
Architect

Executive Skills
Executive
skills

The Three Development Checkpoints validate entry level skills for the next level
The Development Checkpoints validate entry level skills for the next milestone

HR Position
IBM CareerSmart
Alignment
Framework alignment
With Validation Status

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Associate
IT Architect
Foundation
level

Advisory
IT Architect
Experienced
level

Senior
IT Expert
Architect
level

Executive
IT Architect
Thought
Leader
level

2011 IBM Corporation

Career path for Architects

IBM Fellow
Distinguished Engineer

Band

Capability Level

Certification

10

Thought Leader

Level 3

Expert

Level 2
Entry Point 2

Experienced

Foundation

Entry

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Level 1
Entry Point 1

2011 IBM Corporation

A word about the IBM CareerSmart Framework and its relationship

to the Architect Profession
The Architect profession assumes responsibility for the Defining Architectures
Capability in the IBM CareerSmart Framework
The Architect profession certification requirements and process are part of the
Defining Architectures validation process
Validation
Process
Capability
Levels

Associate
Certification

New
Validation
Entry

Foundation

Certification

Experienced

Expert

Senior
Certification

Thought
Leader

Actualizing IT Solutions
Consulting

Architect
Profession

Defining Architectures
Managing Projects and Programs
Managing the Business

Capability
themes and
other criteria

Providing Industry Insight

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Selling

2011 IBM Corporation

All IBM Business Units leverage IT Architects for key roles

S&D
Client Technical Architect

Client Technical Advisor

Industry Architect

Software IT Architect (SWITA)

SWG
Integration Architect
Security Architect

STG
Systems Architect
Infrastructure Architect

GBS
Enterprise Architect
Business Architect

Cross-brand
Chief / Lead Solution
Architect
Design Authority Lead
Profession Leader
Certification Review
Board Member

GTS

Information Architect
Application Architect

Enterprise Architect
Technology Architect

Integration Architect

Business Architect

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Relating Architect to other professions

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Is the IT Architect Profession right for me?

I enjoy variation [change]

I like working with people
I focus on detail
I like to travel
I prefer deep knowledge of narrow subject matter
I like working on my own
Uncertainty makes me very nervous
Im decisive and willing to take risks
I tend to jump to conclusions
I dont like methods
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2011 IBM Corporation

Certification Overview

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Profession certification is a career milestone for technical

professionals across IBM who have demonstrated capabilities

at or above a defined standard of excellence

Profession Certification is designed to validate
candidates have repeatable and successful
application of a methodical approach to
defining and delivering solutions to our clients
Profession certification is an experiencebased assessment, with board review
Employees certified and senior certified by the
IBM Architect certification programs qualify for
external certification by The Open Group.

The benefit of profession

certification include:
Recognition as a leader
Demonstration of sustained
impact to IBMs business
Validation of the attainment
of leadership traits and
characteristics

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2010 IBM Corporation

What does it take to become an Associate Certified Architect?

The associate certification criteria includes the following key aspects:

Having developed a set of core capabilities through repeated practice;
Profiling at least two successful complex projects where the candidate architected the
solution or a significant part of the solution;
Minimum of four years experience in the industry;
At minimum two years of architecture experience demonstrating repeatable use of
architecture methods;
Breadth of experience (e.g. technology, solution types, architectural styles, architectural
viewpoints)
Contribution to the profession [giveback] in at least one category such as development of
intellectual capital, instruction, etc.
Mandatory education including Method and Architectural Thinking.

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Summary of validation criteria by level

Criteria Category

Foundation

Experienced

Expert1

Thought Leader1

Core Capabilities

18

18

18

13

Specialization Capabilities

N/A

N/A

5-8

Only when changing

specialization

Experience Requirements

N/A

N/A

Architectural
Thinking, Method

Experience Profiles
Professional Contributions

Education

1 + mentoring 3
protgs
Architectural
Thinking, Method,
Consulting, PM

Yes

Letters of support /
References
1

15

N/A

Continuing
development totaling
80 to 120 hours in
past 3 years

Continued Education

Professional History

2 + mentoring 5
protgs

Yes
Yes

Yes

Yes
Yes

These levels require revalidation [recertification] every 3 years

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2011 IBM Corporation

Validation process summary

Validation

Frequency

Foundation level
validation

Manager + SME Review

On demand

Experienced level
validation [Associate
Certification]

Manager Review + 3
SME Reviewers

On demand

Expert and Thought

Leader level revalidation
[Recertification and Senior
Recertification]

Manager Review + BU
Executive + SME
Reviewer(s) 1

On demand (However it is
typically clustered around
the certification
anniversaries)

Expert and Thought

Leader level validation
[Certification and Senior
Certification]

Manager Review + BU
Executive + Initial
Package Review (IPR) +
Board [3 interviews +
consensus meeting]

2-7 Boards per year

depending on the
geography

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Review Summary

One SME Reviewer is assigned to review the package. If decision is to decline, two additional
SME reviewers will review package to reach consensus.
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2011 IBM Corporation

Steps to take to plan your architect career

Study the architect certification criteria

Get a certified architect as a mentor
Work with your mentor to assess your current capabilities and experience against the
profession criteria and identify any gaps
Develop a plan as to how you will close the gaps
Work with your mentor and your manager to implement the plan
Develop your package as you go dont leave it to the end!

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Guidelines for developing your validation package...

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Your validation package should be of the same quality as a customer deliverable

The package should reveal your thinking as an Architect
You can also use experience and education acquired before employment with IBM
Your package should clearly articulate the specific roles that you played (e.g. I led the
assessment of the selected product)
Your validation package must be your creation
The package is limited to a specific number of pages (E.g. 40 pages for Experienced level
package)
Develop one of the profiles first and get it reviewed by your mentor the continue with the
other profile
Use your architectural diagrams to illustrate the profiles
Once you have written the profiles start writing the evidence for each capability:
Be brief (I.e. ~ 100 words or less for each example)
Refer to the project profiles
Always read the questions carefully and answer them fully (e.g. Capability descriptions,
Experience requirements, sections in the profiles)
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Certification Tool Overview

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The new IBM CareerSmart Framework tool has Web and Lotus
Notes components
The Web-based tool
Allows the candidates to review their levels and trigger a validation / revalidation
Provides all the administration functionality to assign reviewers, run boards, etc.
Lotus Notes-based tool
Is used to create, review and approve packages

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Entry

Foundation

Experienced

Expert

Thought
Leader

Creating a validation package in the new tool

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2011 IBM Corporation

Entry

Foundation

Experienced

Expert

Thought
Leader

Once the package is created

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Entry

Foundation

Experienced

Expert

Thought
Leader

Whats in the package?

Overview
Introduction and guidance
Employee information
Manager information
Preliminary reviewer
Review period
Target submission date
Mentor
Prior requests at this level

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Experience
Required experience
Experience profiles

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Career development
Learning activities
Professional
giveback

Additional information
Resume/CV
IBM references
Outside references
Awards
Additional
Documentation

Evidence
Core capability statements
Specialization capability
statements

Please refer to package templates in the profession wiki

2011 IBM Corporation

References

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Useful References (1 of 3)

Worldwide Profession Site

Worldwide Profession Wiki
IBM CareerSmart Framework
Changes to Existing IT Architect Criteria
Tool training materials for employees
Business Architecture Practitioner Community
China Architecture CoE
China Architecture Community

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Useful References (2 of 3) - IT Architect Express

https://w3.ibm.com/jct03019wt/bluepages/simpleSearch.wss?searchBy=Name&location=GE%3AAP&searchFor=atul+misra
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Useful References (3 of 3) - Key Profession Contacts

Sandipan Sarkar more info

sandipan.sarkar@in.ibm.comArchitect Profession
Leader - India / South Asia

Bharathi Basavaraj
bharathib@in.ibm.comITA Profession
Management Support

Oscar Adinolfi
AP Profession Leader

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Questions and discussion

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BACKUP CHARTS VALIDATION CRITERIA &

PROCESS
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Mapping of Core Capabilities to Fundamental Skills

Foundation

Experienced

Expert

Thought
Leader

Communication

Architectural Leadership

Negotiation

N/A

Architectural Risk Management

Stakeholder Requirements Management

Architectural Decisions

Architecture Development

Architectural Modeling Techniques

N/A

Solution Assessment

Standards for Solution Creation

N/A

Architectural Strategic Direction

Consulting Techniques

N/A

Architectural Methods

N/A

Architectural Validation Strategy

Project Planning

Client Relationship Management

Defining Architectures Capability Theme

Architectural Assets Harvesting and Reuse

Architectural Thinking
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Experience Requirements Mapping Foundation Level

Experience Requirements for Foundation Level Validation

Experience in IT Industry
You must have at least two (2) years of experience in the IT Industry.

Experience with different types of technologies and architectures

You must have experience working with a range of different technologies or tools.

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2011 IBM Corporation

Experience Requirements Mapping Experienced Level

Experience Requirements for Experienced Level Validation
Experience in IT Industry
You must have at least four (4) years of experience in the IT Industry.
Breadth of architectural experience
You must have architecture experiences that:
Involved the application and integration of a variety of elements that came together to produce the architecture
Encompassed multiple viewpoints to define the architecture
Utilized multiple architectural styles
Utilized multiple and diverse technologies

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Experience Requirements Mapping Expert Level

Experience Requirements for Expert Level Validation
Breadth of architectural experience
You must have architecture experiences that:
Involved the application and integration of a broad variety of elements that came together to produce the
architecture
Encompassed multiple viewpoints to define the architecture
Utilized multiple architectural styles
Utilized multiple and diverse technologies
Application of Methods
You must have experience using more than one method
Understanding Implementation Impact
You must have been involved in the implementation of the solution you defined, experiencing and taking
responsibility for the implications of your architectural decisions and influencing a successful conclusion that
meets business intent.
Architectural Leadership Experience in Business Development
You must have experience as a leader on at least one major bid, contract negotiation, or business case
development effort where your role was Architect.
Industry Knowledge
You must have multiple project experiences designing solutions within a specific client industry.
Influencing the Business Intent
You must have experience influencing the business's view of its goals, objectives, or strategic intent based on
the constraints or opportunities available in the solution.
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2011 IBM Corporation

Experience Requirements Mapping Thought Leader Level

Experience Requirementsfor Thought Leader Level Validation
Practice Architecture
You must currently be an IBM Certified Architect.
Establish Architectural Vision
You must have shown architectural leadership and demonstrated impact in a significant opportunity or project.
Demonstrate Strategic Leadership
You must have anticipated, created, and defined innovative concepts in a strategic IT or business environment. .
Conduct Special Architectural Projects
You must have shown leadership in conducting special architectural projects or special strategic initiatives.
Breadth of Experience
You must demonstrate breadth of experience that has resulted in delivering client value and effective leadership of
your teams.
Demonstrate Business Impact
You must have demonstrated significant impact on the business by leading complex projects, applications, or systemof-systems architectures.
Establish Architectural Process, Policies and Procedures
You must have experience in defining architectural processes, policies, and procedures. This includes, but is not
limited to, selecting and adapting the proper architectural methods, governance, and technical standards necessary to
realize a strategic IT or business system.
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