Architect Responsibilities

To understand the necessary skills an architect needs, we first need to understand typical activities. The following list contains from my perspective the most important activities:

• Define and decide development technology and platform
• Define development standards, e.g., coding standards, tools, review processes, test approach, etc.
• Support identifying and understanding business requirements
• Design systems and take decisions based on requirements
• Document and communicate architectural definitions, design and decisions
• Check and review architecture and code, e.g., check if defined patterns and coding standards are implemented properly
• Collaborate with other architects and stakeholders
• Coach and consult developers
• Make sure that as implementation takes place, the architecture is being adhered to
• Play a key part in reviewing code
• Detail out and refine higher level design into lower level design

Note: Architecture is a continuous activity, especially when it is applied in agile software development. Therefore, these activities are done over and over again.