The One About Enterprise Architect Skills for the Future

Enterprise Architects are just really good technologists and all they really need to know is the latest thing about AI or Agents or Gonkulators or Flux Capacitors. 🤖 🛸 🤓

Yeah. Right.

Whynde Kuehn and I recently attended the Next Generation SAP Enterprise Architecture Learning Forum at SAP HQ in Newton Square, PA. We spoke to some of our friends who were also attending the event. Our question? What skills do EA's need to navigate the tidal wave of transformation? 💫 💥 💬

We Discuss:

- What does an architect need to know and develop skill-wise to navigate the coming transformation?

- What are the skills for the future that an architect needs to have?

- What do consultants need to do to take the journey of transformation, whether with AI, robotics, or other technologies?

- What are the most important skills for enterprise architects helping organizations with transformation now and in the future?

5 Takeaways:

1) Enterprise architects must understand how data quality affects AI outcomes, as emphasized by examples of poor or outdated training data that leads to irrelevant AI responses in practical applications like customer service.

2) The role of enterprise architects is rapidly evolving beyond technical specialization, requiring them to develop flexible mindsets and continuously learn about emerging technologies from cloud to AI to quantum computing.

3) Effective consultants need to master the ability to "switch hats" and understand different perspectives, using question-based approaches to better comprehend client contexts before recommending solutions.

4) Linda Finley describes a three-layered approach to enterprise architecture: implementation/integration at the base, business strategy/capability definition in the middle, and a "mystic" visionary layer that anticipates future opportunities and disruptions.

5) Technology initiatives like AI should not be developed as standalone strategies but rather integrated into the organization's existing direction and purpose to maximize business value and optimization.