What It Takes to Become a Chief Enterprise Architect

As we enter 2022, technology plays a huge role in all aspects of enterprises. According to a study by Namura Holdings, big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity are priority areas for technology spending. With new technologies emerging, enterprises need IT professionals who can define system architecture and support the organization’s IT strategy. These professionals, who can immerse themselves in technical challenges and deliver results aligned with company goals and processes, are what we call enterprise architects.

Enterprise architecture is considered one of the key ways to gain competitive advantage through IT. The demand for reducing costs, increasing flexibility, and standardizing the technology environment continues to grow, leading to increased enterprise architecture activities. Acquiring digital talent and capabilities will become increasingly important for successful digital transformation projects over the next decade, and the need for people to manage and oversee these projects will also rise. Existing enterprise architects can now decide to advance their skills in systems and technology and move forward.

Figure 1: Enterprise Architecture Pyramid of Domains

The role of an enterprise architect is dynamic and multifaceted. In digital transformation programs, their tasks often include maintaining a robust knowledge base of current and legacy IT technologies as well as emerging technologies and other IT trends. Within an enterprise architecture team, roles can range from senior enterprise architects to solution architects, security architects, or chief enterprise architects—each with distinct responsibilities. The chief enterprise architect focuses on ensuring that business strategy and related trends are reflected in the enterprise’s processes and systems, aiming to maximize value and minimize associated difficulties while driving change.

What does it actually take to move from enterprise architect to chief enterprise architect? First, understand the CEA’s identification of the chief enterprise architect’s responsibilities and key functions.

CEA manages an enterprise architect department, delivering EA implementation for clients, as IT plays a critical role in implementing key work plans such as digital transformation. The chief EA develops strategies to ensure EA consulting maturity improves according to the roadmap, meeting internal and external stakeholder needs without compromising industry standards. The chief EA also manages the developed EA framework and provides higher‑level technical oversight and guidance for IT programs.

Because enterprise architects also determine the applicable technical standards for projects, the chief enterprise architect’s key functions must be emphasized. In addition to hard technical skills, enterprise architects are more effective when they possess essential soft skills, including leadership, clear communication with all IT stakeholders, strong design abilities across one or more IT silos, knowledge of IT processes, and good interpersonal skills.

Most successful enterprise architects have a temperament that is comfortable with uncertainty. This is because great enterprise architecture is about driving change, i.e., digital transformation. – IASA CEO and Founder Paul Preiss

The demand for enterprise architects will continue to align with the technology industry; new and existing IT staff should seize the opportunity to climb the enterprise ladder and reach executive levels.