Solution Architecture Fundamentals
Gain the fundamental knowledge and skills required to be an effective consultant and trusted advisor.
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Description
This two-day course is aimed at practising solution architects, including those who may be new to the role or those engaging with solution architects. It's relevant regardless of whether your solution is built in Java, .NET, you are implementing a package solution, or integrating existing systems. Its principles and themes are just as applicable to developing solutions and situations where commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products will be integrated.
The course provides a pragmatic approach to delivering solution architecture.
This is an interactive course designed and delivered by practising solution architects.
With a combination of presentation, group discussion and group exercises, you will put into practice what you have learned by applying solution architecture to a case study.
For groups of five or more, please contact us to discuss hosting a private course in-house at your place.
Outline
Introduction
- What is architecture and types of architecture
- Architecture vs. design
Solution Architecture – Roles and Responsibilities
- The role and skills of a solution architect in a project team
- Relationship between solution architects and project managers, designers or other team members
- Solution architect within iterative and agile implementation projects
Defining a solution architecture
- The drivers and constraints of a solution architecture
- Solution architecture for off the shelf packages vs developed software
- How functional and non-functional requirements drive solution architecture
- Applying architectural principles
Sharing solutions architecture
- How to communicate solution architecture
- Who needs to know about your architecture?
- Evaluating your architecture
Modelling
- Context diagram (to clearly delineate scope)
- High level component (“boxes and lines”) diagram to identify major logical components
- Sequence diagrams to model behavioural aspects of the system and component interactions
- Data models to show key data entities
- Deployment diagram to model physical deployment into an infrastructure
- Introduction use-case diagrams
Learning outcomes
Following the completion of this course, you will have:
- An understanding of what solution architecture is all about.
- An understanding of what it means to be a solution architect and the responsibilities associated with the role.
- An understanding of the trade-offs that are made when making architectural decisions.
- Experience of how to define the solution architecture; including defining non-functional requirements, determining the architectural drivers, and identifying the architectural constraints.
- The ability to identify stakeholders and understand their solution architecture needs.
- An understanding of architectural view points and perspectives.
Audience
- Architects
- Project managers
- Analysts
- IT managers
Prerequisites
Experience in implementing technology solutions
Outline
What is a consultant?
- What do consultants offer?
- What consultants do?
What are the qualities of a good consultant?
Managing the consulting process
- Objectives
- Approach
- Scope
- Deliverables
- Assumptions
- Reporting
Working with Clients
- Communication skills
- Asking questions
- Dealing with politics
- Managing conflict
Critical thinking
- Evaluating evidence
- Clarifying issues and arguments
- Checking for consistency
- Thinking methods
Client service
- Understanding your clients
- Client service
Key consulting skills
- Sales and marketing
- Meetings and workshops
- Report writing and proposals
- Time management
Learning outcomes
Following the completion of this course, students will:
- Understand the role of consultants and be able to identify the qualities of a good consultant
- Be able to use a consulting ‘statement of work’ to effectively manage the consulting process
- Be more effective at communicating and working with, as well as providing excellent service to, clients
- Apply critical thinking skills to work through client problems.
Audience
Anyone who is:
- Moving into an internal or external consulting role
- Seeking to balance specialist or technical skills with client-facing consulting skills.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
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