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IT Architect Certification Standards

By SD Times News Team

January 1, 2006 — (Page 1 of 4)
The role of the IT architect has been steadily evolving in the past decade: from a focus on designing applications and then systems, to a role that is much more tightly linked to the success of the business. Like building architects, much of their work is focused on the front end of the solution life cycle: listening to clients, understanding their business requirements and systematically forming incrementally more detailed definitions of the structures of an information technology solution—an architecture.

And while their job scope has evolved, the way their skills are standardized and evaluated hasn’t. IT architecture is not yet recognized as a profession in its own right, but it should be. To that end, the Open Group has launched the ITAC (IT Architect Certification) standard for a complete definition of the rapidly expanding IT architecture profession. Now, IT architects who have real skill and experience-based qualifications can be backed up by a rigorous certification program.

Demand for skills high
IT decision makers say that they need people with more than just knowledge—they need demonstrable practiced skills and a track record. Organizations that provide and train IT architects report that demand is high; however, experienced and skilled practitioners are not receiving the recognition that should be accorded.

IT architects need proven competencies across a variety of disciplines straddling business, strategy and strong understanding of IT. These include basic systems analyses encompassing the scope and migration issues as well as a comprehensive knowledge of the burgeoning legislation in this area, the many technical standards that are being published and the related compliance claims of vendors.

Knowledge of appropriate governance models and of architectural frameworks such as TOGAF and the Rational Unified Process (RUP) adds to the demands on practitioners to the extent that already we are seeing a need for differentiation of roles into areas such as enterprise, information, infrastructure and application architecture. Also essential are people skills to liaise with the business process experts and the technical implementers.

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Developers keep cheating on certification exams
Weeks after SD Times first reported about how widespread cheating on certification exams was online, the practice continues nearly unabated. Microsoft encourages individuals to take action and report illicit activities in its learning programs Read More...

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